Ignitus Anthias (Pseudanthias Ignitus) Female

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Orange, Red, Yellow

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 3½"

Origin : Indo-Pacific 

Family : Serranidae

Minimum Tank Size : 70 gallons

Ignitus Anthias (Pseudanthias Ignitus), the Flame Anthias or Flame Basslet is a species of marine ray-finned fish, an anthias from the subfamily Anthiinae part of the family Serranidae, the groupers and sea basses. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Pseudanthis Ignitus has a moderately elongate, compressed body with an oblique, moderately large mouth which, in males, has a swollen upper lip which can be moved up and down and with the maxilla reaching to the level of the rear margin of the eye. The head and body of males are orange, reddening towards the back and tinged with lavender towards the belly and abdomen. The bottom part of the head is pale yellow and there is an orange strip with lavender edges which runs from the tip of the snout, through the bottom half of the eye to the edge of the gill cover just in front of the pectoral fin. The iris is orange and lavender below and greenish above. There is a small red spot at the base of the pectoral fin. The dorsal fin is bright red with a purple edge and a yellow base which broadens onto the fin rays. The anal fin is hyaline and its colour is lavender while the caudal fin is orange on the base becoming redder on its lobes. Females are similarly but less intensely coloured. The maximum total length of this species is 3,5 inches.

The Ignitus Anthias is a reef inhabitant in the wild. It is a shallow water species that thrives best in a 125 gallon aquarium with one male and up to ten females. When housed singly, 70 gallon tank is sufficient. They are hardy and peaceful and can be kept in a reef tank setting with plenty of live rock. 

Suitable tankmates for anthias would be peaceful fish that will not harass these docile fish or outcompete them for food. Avoid keeping two males in the same tank, as it can lead to extreme aggression. Stressed anthias have been known to jump from an aquarium. Anthias are Reef Safe and are not normally known to bother corals or invertebrates.

Anthias species all share the trait of being hermaphroditic. If a dominant male perishes, the largest female of the group will often morph to take its place. When courting, the coloration of the male Ignitus Anthias intensifies greatly and the bright red dorsal fin is held in an upright fashion.

Once acclimated to a new aquarium, anthias do best when fed a varied diet of frozen mysis shrimp, enriched frozen brine shrimp, and over time may eat high-quality flake foods offered in small quantities throughout the day. An attached refugium cultivating copepods and amphipods provides a steady supply of nutritious live food sure to keep this active planktivore content. Diet should include a variety of a steady supply of copepods, frozen mysis and vitamin enriched brine shrimp, as well as high quality flake foods 3-5 times daily.

Size: Small: 3/4" - 1-1/4"; Medium: 1-1/2" - 2-1/2"; Large: 2-1/2" - 3"