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Red-cheeked fairy basslet (Pseudanthias huchtii) — Serranidae

Red-cheeked fairy basslet

Pseudanthias huchtii
Family: Serranidae

The Red-cheeked fairy basslet (Pseudanthias huchtii) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3–30 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Fiji, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Palau and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Red-cheeked fairy basslet is a small sea bass (Serranidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has an elongate, red-pink body. Males are greenish with a conspicuous red-purple cheek stripe. It hovers in schools above coral reef slopes and picks zooplankton from the current. Like many sea basses it changes sex. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Red-cheeked fairy basslet?

The Red-cheeked fairy basslet has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Red-cheeked fairy basslet live?

The Red-cheeked fairy basslet lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Fiji, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Palau and others

How big does the Red-cheeked fairy basslet get?

The Red-cheeked fairy basslet grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Red-cheeked fairy basslet dangerous to humans?

No, the Red-cheeked fairy basslet is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Red-cheeked fairy basslet edible?

Yes, the Red-cheeked fairy basslet is commonly eaten.

More photos

Red-cheeked fairy basslet (Pseudanthias huchtii) — Serranidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Anne Hoggett (CC BY 3.0)
Red-cheeked fairy basslet (Pseudanthias huchtii) — Serranidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Red-cheeked fairy basslet (Pseudanthias huchtii) — Serranidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Red-cheeked fairy basslet (Pseudanthias huchtii) — Serranidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) terence zahner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Red-cheeked fairy basslet sourced
Scientific name
Pseudanthias huchtii
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Hucht's sea perch; Pacific basslet; Red-cheeked anthias; Red-cheeked fairy basslet; Hucht's fairy basslet; Threadfin anthias verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Forked

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3 verified
Max depth (m)
30 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Fiji, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Palau and others sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pseudanthias

More from the family Serranidae

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