ANIMAL: Sea Goldie/Lyretail Anthias/Orange Anthias/Orange Fairy Basslet/Scalefin Anthias Pseudanthias squamipinnis Type of Animal: Anthias Habitat: Above/in/around patch reefs, steep slopes, above reefs, above/around coral outcrops, above/in channels, above/in/around outer reef slopes, coral reefs, rocky reefs, tropical reefs, lagoons, reef faces, reefs w/ open water areas/brisk flow, outer reefs, shallow reefs, over bommies, wreck areas, inshore waters, large onshore rock pools, tide pools, (latter 2 important habitats for juveniles), found as deep as 131.234 ft Location(s): Indo-Pacific Appearance: Females orange-gold color w/ violet streak below eye, males different shades of red w/ elongated dorsal spine, red patch on pectoral fin, elongated tail margins Food/Diet: Zooplankton, copepods, crustacean larvae, fish eggs, krill, brine shrimp, mysid shrimp, amphipods, rotifers, shrimp, clams, small fish Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in aquariums, aquaculture, & zoos. Captive breeding reducing demand for wild-caught fish. Lifestyle: Schools can be as small as a harem of a male & 4 females to huge schools w/ as many as 7,000 fish. Schools aggregations of many harems. Harems can have as many as 20 females per male. Some harem groups have 2 subordinate males. These fish all born female w/ most dominant/largest females becoming males. If dominant male dies/no other male around, largest female becomes male. Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Fry Group: School Weight: Male: 1.2-1.5 oz Female: 0.5-0.7 oz Gestation: 1 day Life Span: 5 years Body Length: Male: 3.94-4.3 in Female: 2.76-3.14 in Tail Length: Male: 2.3 in Female: 1.5 in Main predators are larger fish. Spawning occurs at sunset. Dominant males perform courtship dances involving frenzied zigzag swimming patterns. Often school w/ other fish species. One of the most common anthias in aquariums. Males use filamentous streamers in courtship as well as for deterring other males. Much of their time is spent feeding. Fun Fact(s): Sex change transition takes around 3-4 weeks to complete. Many divers believe that watching these fish is best way of figuring out which way current flows. Sought after in aquarium trade due to beauty. These fish come w/ many other names-Orange Basslet, Lyretail Coralfish, Lyretail Fairy Basslet, Orange Seaperch, Scalefin Fairy Basslet, Scalefin Basslet, Goldie, Jewel Anthias, Jewel Fairy Basslet, Orange Butterfly Perch, Red Coral Perch, Blue-Eyed Anthias, Purple-Eye Anthias, Sea Goldie Anthias, & Wreckfish.
