Blotched Anthias

Blotched Anthias (Odontanthias borbonius), also commonly known as the Borbonius Anthias or Yellow-Spotted Anthias: 1. Appearance & Coloration Coloration: They feature a striking, soft pink, lavender, or peachy-orange body adorned with irregular, rustic golden-yellow or orange blotches and patches, complemented by lighter lemon-yellow fins. Physical Features: They possess large, highly reflective eyes, tall dorsal fin spines, and delicate filamentous extensions on the soft dorsal and tail fins. Size: They grow to an adult size of about 6 inches (15 cm). 2. Tank Requirements Minimum Tank Size: Requires a well-established aquarium of at least 75 to 125 gallons to provide ample swimming room and stable water parameters. Water Parameters: Temperature: 72°F – 78°F (22°C – 26°C) Salinity (Specific Gravity): 1.020 – 1.025 pH: 8.1 – 8.4 Alkalinity: 8 – 12 dKH Lighting & Aquascaping: Because they originate from deepwater environments (often found at depths ranging from 70 to 300 meters), they naturally prefer subdued lighting or shaded areas. Provide plenty of live rock structured with caves, overhangs, and deep crevices for them to retreat into. 3. Diet & Feeding Natural Diet: Planktonic feeders that drift along deep reef slopes consuming zooplankton and microfauna. Captive Diet: Being carnivores with high metabolisms, they thrive on multiple small feedings a day. Offer a varied menu of enriched frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, cyclops, finely chopped meaty seafood, and high-quality small pellets or flakes. An established refugium that supplies a steady stream of live copepods is also highly beneficial. 4. Reef Compatibility Status: Reef Safe Behavior: They are completely safe with all corals, clams, and sessile invertebrates, making them an exceptional addition to high-end mixed reef displays. 5. Temperament & Tank Mates Temperament: Generally peaceful, but they tend to be more reclusive and slower to settle than shallow-water anthias species—especially when first introduced. Compatibility: Best kept with other peaceful community fish like docile wrasses, gobies, and peaceful tangs. Avoid housing them with overly aggressive or hyperactive fast-feeders that will outcompete them for food during feeding time.