Anthias ID

Haydn · May 3, 2019

I got this as part of a group of P. ignitus which it obviously isn't. My first thought was a Nemanthias carberryi but it just doesn't look right.

It's about 2 1/2" long, the ignitus it came in with are all 3"+ so it would seem to be a slow grower.
Sorry for the grainy picture but I had to blow the photo up to get a good image.

Angel_Anthias lover · May 3, 2019

How many dorsal filaments are on the dorsal fin, if theres 2 its a carberryi and if not ive no idea to me it looks like an ignitus, but no idea

nereefpat · May 3, 2019

Hopefully I can learn something here. I can't tell the difference between dispar, carberryi, and ignitus.

And why is carberryi in a different genus?

Angel_Anthias lover · May 3, 2019

Carberryi has 2 dorsal filaments at the front of its dorsal fin which is unlike any other psuedanthias and thats y i assume its in a different genus.
Dispar and ignitus are closely related but their colouration is slightly different,

Angel_Anthias lover · May 3, 2019

Carberryi

Dispar

Ignitus

Haydn · May 3, 2019

No dorsal filaments. The male ignitus don't show to it at all, either as a rival male or a female to be courted, which makes me think it isn't ignitus.

Angel_Anthias lover · May 3, 2019

Strange, i dont really know, hopwfully someone else can help

eatbreakfast · May 3, 2019

Its a carberryi. They don't always develop the dorsal filaments. Look at the eye stripe and tail shape.

Haydn · May 4, 2019

eatbreakfast said:
Its a carberryi. They don't always develop the dorsal filaments. Look at the eye stripe and tail shape.

Thanks for the reply. I leaned toward carberryi when I researched it but the colours look wrong (I know there are regional variations) but in all the pictures I have seen the anal fin is clear the one on my fish is noticeably white and the tail is yellow not red. Could it perhaps be a hybrid? although as carberryi are in a genus all their own I'm not sure what they would hybridise with.

I hope it is a carberryi because I have never been able to keep them long term, they seem to fade away and I have had this one for over a year- I may try a group and see if they interact with this one and maybe last.