Dispar Anthias

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Moderate   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 4"
• Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-80° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
• Diet: Carnivore   • Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Family: Serranidae   • Species: Anthias   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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As an attractive and peaceful, open water, schooling species from the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, Dispar Anthias are a very popular choice for adding color and liveliness to large reef aquariums; as a result, they are readily available in the hobby and are competitively priced. Dispar Anthias are a hermaphroditic species and in the absence of a dominant male, the dominant female of the group will morph into a male to take its place. Dispar Anthias have somewhat elongated bodies with vivid peach hues and a slightly darker operculum line that is often outlined in light-indigo along with their caudal and anal fins. Males are relatively larger than the females, tend to be flashier in coloration, and have an extended red dorsal fin.

Dispar Anthias should be housed in an aquarium of at least 75 gallons (125+ gallons is recommended for one male and eight or more females) and should be provided with a sufficient amount of live rock as well as substantial room in the water column for their constant movement. Although they rely on the reef for shelter, they are an open water, schooling species and prefer to constantly swim around their environment, whether searching for food or just enjoying themselves.

Most Anthias species prefer low intensity lighting, but Dispar Anthias reside in relatively shallow water and are much more tolerant of the higher intensity lighting requirements needed for a healthy reef aquarium. They are an extremely active species with a high metabolism and in addition to regular aquarium maintenance, quality filtration (mechanical and biological), they demand high water quality with scheduled water changes to keep nitrate levels in check.

They are a very peaceful, reef-safe species and should only be housed with other peaceful, community oriented tank mates. Because of their hermaphroditic hierarchical nature, there should only be one male of the species housed at a time (two males will commonly fight until only one is left). Dispar Anthias require the presence of their own kind and it's recommended that they be kept in groups of five or more.

Dispar Anthias are carnivorous fish and mainly feed upon zooplankton in their natural habitat. In captivity, they can sometimes be reluctant to feed, but can be enticed with amphipods, copepods, rotifers, and brine shrimp as well as foods such as prepared zooplankton, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, chopped mysis shrimp, and other frozen meaty foods for marine fish. With the presence of others of their species, they will be less reluctant to feed; due to their constant activity and high metabolisms, they should be fed at least two, preferably three times a day.