Squareback Anthias Female Medium

The Squareback Anthias, also known as Squarespot, Purple Blotch Basslet, Squareblock, Square, or Mirror Anthias, is named for its unique color variation. Females have a predominantly yellow body with a lavender belly, and a thin blue line extending from the nose to the pectoral fin. Males, on the other hand, are mostly pink with a lavender belly and a lighter rectangular shape on the side. To keep their brilliant colors from fading, the Squareback Anthias prefers an aquarium with low, indirect lighting. Although they typically remain at the mid-tank level, they have been found at depths of up to 600 feet in the wild. A 100-gallon tank is sufficient for one fish, but if keeping a group, a 180-gallon tank is recommended as these fish appreciate plenty of room to swim. Like other Anthias species, the Squareback Anthias is hermaphroditic, so if a dominant male dies, the largest female of the group will often morph to take its place. Once acclimated to a new aquarium, the Squareback Anthias does best with a varied diet of frozen mysis shrimp, enriched frozen brine shrimp, and high-quality flake foods offered in small quantities throughout the day. An attached refugium that cultivates copepods and amphipods can provide a steady supply of nutritious live food for this active planktivore.