🐠 Bicolor Anthias (Pseudanthias bicolor)
Marine Reef-Safe Shoaling Fish • Violet & Yellow Display Fish • Active Mid-Water Swimmer • Beginner-Friendly Anthias
 
📋 The Bicolor Anthias (Pseudanthias bicolor), also known as the Fancy Bass or Yellowback Basslet, is one of the hardier and larger anthias species, with males displaying an intense violet body and yellow running along the back into the tail, while females show a softer lavender body with a yellow back and caudal fin.
Native to current-swept reef slopes and drop-offs across a remarkably wide Indo-Pacific range, from Mauritius and Réunion to Hawaii and the Line Islands, this species forms natural aggregations feeding on zooplankton in open water above the reef.
Naturally social, Bicolor Anthias do best either as a single specimen or as a proper harem of one male with at least eight females — smaller groups tend to result in bullying, with the weakest fish pushed away from food. Only ever keep one male per tank. They're genuinely reef safe, generally ignoring sessile invertebrates and corals entirely.
With a spacious, established tank and consistent feeding, it thrives as an Active Colourful Shoaling Reef Display Fish.
 
💜💛 Highlights
🎨 Striking Male/Female Colouration: Violet males, lavender females, both with yellow accents
🐟 Active Shoaling Species: Best as a single fish or a proper harem of 1 male + 8 or more females
🌿 Genuinely Reef Safe: Ignores corals and invertebrates
🧠 Hardy for an Anthias: One of the more forgiving species in the genus
⚠️ Known Jumper: A tightly fitted lid is essential