Pet Wiki

Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Lyretail Anthias

Pseudanthias squamipinnis (Peters, 1855)

Also called Sea goldie, Scalefin anthias, Orange basslet, Lyretail coralfish, Orange fairy basslet

SpeciesShort profile

From Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and South Africa across to Niue, north to Japan and south to Australia.12

At a glance the quick version

Length7 to 15 cm123
Sizesmall

Females about 7 cm, males up to 15 cm total length.

Brilliant colour and constant movement
Lively shoaling behaviour
Helps shy tankmates feel confident
32

Looks how to spot one

Scaled, slender anthias with a lyre-shaped tail

A slim, graceful reef fish with a deeply forked, lyre-shaped tail. The sexes look very different: females are smaller and golden orange with a violet streak under the eye, while males grow larger, turn magenta to fuchsia, carry a red patch on the pectoral fin and have a long third dorsal spine and extended tail tips.21

ColoursOrange-gold (females)Magenta to fuchsia (males)Violet streak below the eyeRed pectoral patch (males)21

Personality what they are like

Sociable and busy. Groups hover above the rockwork picking food from the water, and males show off to their females. Males can be territorial toward each other, so one male per group works best.31

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Very active swimmers that spend the day in midwater and need open swimming space plus good water movement.32

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Feed small portions several times a day, which suits their plankton-picking lifestyle. Typical reef water: about 22 to 26 °C (72 to 78 °F), pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025.3

Home where they are happiest

A large aquarium of at least about 130 US gallons (about 490 L) for a group, with plenty of open water above live rock. Wild fish live around coral outcrops in clear lagoons, channels and outer reef slopes, mostly at 5 to 35 m.312

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A zooplankton feeder. Offer frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp and quality flake foods in small, frequent meals; a refugium producing copepods and amphipods is a welcome extra.13

Company who they like around

Best kept in a group of one male with several females, ideally in a species-focused or roomy reef tank. In the wild a male guards a harem of about 5 to 10 females.231

The story where it all began

Wilhelm Peters described the species in 1855. It is one of the most familiar anthias on Indo-Pacific reefs and in the aquarium hobby, and its sex change has made it a classic study species for reef biologists.12

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    All lyretail anthias start life as females; if the male disappears, the top female turns into a male within a few weeks.1

  2. 2

    A successful male spawns every evening with one female after another.1

  3. 3

    The midas blenny copies the golden colour of this anthias and mingles with its shoals.2

  4. 4

    Males and females look so different that they could easily be mistaken for two separate species.2

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List
Least Concern (assessed March 2015)1
Taxonomy
Family Serranidae (subfamily Anthiadinae); described by Wilhelm Peters in 18551

The care rhythm a typical week and year

A typical home-care rhythm for a Lyretail Anthias. A starting point, not a vet's advice.

Owner questions the things everyone asks

How often should I feed my Lyretail Anthias?

Feed small portions several times a day to match their plankton-picking lifestyle. Furry Diary's starting plan suggests small amounts once or twice daily, but more frequent tiny meals are ideal.3 Pet Wiki plan

What does a Lyretail Anthias eat, and what should it never eat?

They eat zooplankton like frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, and quality flake foods. A refugium with copepods and amphipods is a welcome extra. Avoid large or sinking foods that don't suit their midwater feeding style.13

How much space does a Lyretail Anthias need?

A group needs a large aquarium of at least about 130 US gallons (about 490 L) with plenty of open water above live rock. They are very active swimmers that need open swimming space and good water movement.32

What temperature, light or water does a Lyretail Anthias need?

Typical reef water: about 22 to 26 °C (72 to 78 °F), pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. They need good water movement and clear water, as they live around coral outcrops in the wild.3

How often should I clean a Lyretail Anthias's home?

Furry Diary's starting plan suggests weekly glass cleaning, weekly water tests, and a 10-20% water change every two weeks. Top up evaporation daily with fresh RO water, not salt water. Pet Wiki plan

Can a Lyretail Anthias live with others?

Yes, they are sociable and best kept in a group of one male with several females, ideally in a species-focused or roomy reef tank. Males can be territorial toward each other, so one male per group works best.231

How long does a Lyretail Anthias live?

Lifespan varies; ask your exotic-pet vet or a good breeder for specific guidance based on your setup and care.

Can I handle a Lyretail Anthias?

No, handling is not recommended as it stresses the fish and can damage their delicate scales and slime coat. Enjoy watching them swim gracefully in the water instead.21

Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Pet Wiki's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.

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Bartlett's Anthias

Where this comes from

Every fact on this page has a numbered source. Spotted an error? [email protected].

  1. FishBase: Pseudanthias squamipinnis fishbase.seused for origin, size, habitat, diet, reproduction, IUCN status
  2. Wikipedia: Pseudanthias squamipinnis en.wikipedia.orgused for names, description, colours, social structure
  3. LiveAquaria: Lyretail Anthias liveaquaria.comused for care level, tank size, water parameters, feeding

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.