How many Evansi Anthias should I keep together?

They should be kept in a harem of at least five individuals, consisting of one male and four or more females, to disperse aggression and encourage natural shoaling behaviour.

Why is my Evansi Anthias hiding and not eating?

This is common during the first few days of acclimatisation. They are timid fish that require peaceful tankmates and plenty of hiding spaces to feel secure. Try offering live foods like copepods or fortified baby brine shrimp to stimulate a feeding response.

Do I really need to feed them multiple times a day?

Yes. In the wild, they feed continuously throughout the day. In an aquarium, feeding them 3 to 5 small meals daily is essential to maintain their body weight and long-term health.

Can I keep two male Evansi Anthias in the same tank?

It is highly discouraged. Males are fiercely territorial towards one another, and in a standard home aquarium, the dominant male will relentlessly attack and likely kill the subordinate male.

Are they safe to keep with corals and shrimp?

Absolutely. The Evansi Anthias is 100% reef safe and will not bother any corals, ornamental shrimp, crabs, or snails in your aquarium.

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Evansi Anthias

Pseudanthias evansi

A visually spectacular, reef-safe shoaling fish known for its striking purple-pink and yellow colouration, suited for advanced aquarists able to accommodate its demanding feeding schedule.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 23 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.023 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 9 – 11 cm
for a harem of one male and four females: 450 litres+
Lifespan: 5 – 7 years
Diet: Carnivore (zooplanktivore)
Water flow: High
Preferred setup: Reef environment with plenty of open swimming space and rocky overhangs for shelter.

About the Evansi Anthias

The Evansi Anthias, or Yellowback Anthias, is an exceptionally colourful member of the Serranidae family. Recognisable by its vivid two-tone colouration—a bright yellow back contrasting with a violet-pink body—it is a highly sought-after addition to large reef aquariums. In the wild, they are found in vast numbers hovering above coral drop-offs, facing the current to pluck microscopic prey from the water column. While their beauty is undeniable, their care requirements make them best suited for dedicated, experienced marine fishkeepers.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Evansi Anthias against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Evansi Anthias comes from

Native range

Indian Ocean, Andaman Sea

Countries / regions

Maldives, Indonesia, Christmas Island, Kenya

Habitat

Outer reef slopes and drop-offs subject to strong tidal currents.

Commonly found aggregating in large numbers above current-swept coral formations.

Similar species

Lyretail Anthias
Pseudanthias squamipinnis
Bartlett's Anthias
Pseudanthias bartlettorum
Dispar Anthias
Pseudanthias dispar

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Fairy Wrasses
Cirrhilabrus spp.
Peaceful, active reef fish that share similar temperaments and will not compete aggressively for food.
Great
Firefish
Nemateleotris magnifica
Placid tankmates that occupy different niches and will not trigger defensive behaviour in the anthias.
Great
Blennies
Salarias spp.
Bottom-dwelling herbivores that completely ignore midwater planktivores.
Great
Dwarf Angelfish
Centropyge spp.
Some species can be boisterous and may outcompete timid anthias during feeding time.
Compatible with caution
Tangs
Zebrasoma spp.
Large and active tangs can occasionally intimidate newly introduced anthias, though they usually coexist well in large enough aquariums.
Compatible with caution
Lionfish
Pterois volitans
Will view the slender Evansi Anthias as prey and swallow them whole.
Not recommended
Other Male Anthias
Pseudanthias spp.
Males are highly intolerant of other males, whether conspecifics or closely related species, leading to severe fighting.
Not recommended

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