Description
Noble Anthias - Calayan (Franzia nobilis)
The Noble Anthias is a beautiful and uncommon marine anthias admired for its elegant body shape, vivid pink to reddish colouration and delicate contrasting markings. The Calayan locality is particularly desirable for aquarists looking for unusual reef fish with distinctive regional provenance. Active, peaceful and reef safe, this species is best suited to mature marine aquariums with excellent water quality, strong oxygenation and regular feeding with small planktonic foods.
Common Name:
Noble Anthias - Calayan
Scientific Name (Latin):
Franzia nobilis
Maximum Size:
Approximately 10–12 cm
Water Type:
Marine
Origin / Natural Habitat:
The Noble Anthias is associated with deeper coral reef environments where it occupies open water close to steep reef slopes, rocky structure and areas offering immediate shelter.
The Calayan form originates from the northern Philippines, where suitable reef habitats provide cooler, highly oxygenated water and access to abundant planktonic food.
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 23–26°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: SG 1.024–1.026
Nitrate: Low and stable
Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
Temperament:
Peaceful to Semi-Aggressive
The Noble Anthias is generally peaceful towards unrelated marine fish and is well suited to carefully planned reef communities.
Like many anthias, individuals can establish a social hierarchy when maintained in groups, with dominant fish displaying more strongly towards subordinate individuals.
Diet:
Carnivore / Planktivore
The Noble Anthias naturally feeds on small planktonic organisms suspended within the water column.
In the aquarium, offer a varied diet including frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped krill and quality small marine pellets.
Several smaller meals throughout the day are strongly recommended, as anthias are naturally frequent feeders with relatively high energy requirements.
Minimum Tank Size:
Approximately 250 litres
A mature aquarium with generous open swimming room and extensive reef structure is recommended.
Behaviour & Activity:
The Noble Anthias is an active daytime swimmer that commonly occupies the middle areas of the aquarium above and around reef structure.
It benefits from a combination of open water and caves, ledges and overhangs where it can retreat when startled.
In suitable groups, individuals may display natural shoaling and hierarchical behaviour.
Reef Safe:
Reef Safe
The Noble Anthias is generally considered reef safe and does not normally damage healthy corals, clams or established ornamental invertebrates.
Its feeding behaviour is focused primarily on small planktonic foods within the water column.
Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Provide a mature, biologically stable marine aquarium with excellent filtration and strong oxygenation.
Regular feeding is particularly important, with several small meals throughout the day preferable to a single large feed.
Newly introduced specimens should be monitored carefully to ensure they begin feeding consistently.
Avoid highly aggressive or excessively boisterous tankmates that may intimidate the anthias or prevent it from feeding comfortably.
Plenty of caves, overhangs and shaded reef structure should be available alongside open swimming space.
Stable water chemistry and consistently high water quality are important for maintaining healthy body condition and strong colouration.
A secure lid is recommended, particularly during acclimation.
Suitable for:
Intermediate to Experienced
Availability:
Limited availability and dependent on collection and import.
All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.
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