All Red Sea anthias are born female, and all have the ability to transition into males. As they slowly change sex, they change from gold to red and white stripes. Why do they do it?
Red Sea Anthias Harem
These fish live in a harem structure with one male and many females. The female is a pretty gold and pink. She looks, at first glance, a little like the much more common lyretail anthias but without the violet streak from eye to cheek.
When the male dies, the dominant female starts the transition. This sex change can take as little as two weeks, but may take longer. As the female transitions, she will start to display more intense colours and develop longer fins. She also becomes more aggressive, chasing other females.
Where to see them
They are generally thought to only live in the Red Sea, and even there only in the north. But there has been an unconfirmed sighting in India.
Occasionally they are as shallow as 10 m, but you more often find them between 20 and 40 m.
Pseudoanthias species tend to prefer areas with currents – outer reef slopes and drop-offs – which deliver a stream of plankton for them to eat. To photograph them then, try heading with the current towards them to capture their face or profile.
These fascinating fish are not well studied – if you’ve spotted one – tell us in the comments below.
Further reading: The Striking Red Sea Anthias, Pseudanthias taeniatus
