Friday, August 22nd, 2025, Kevin Barden’s Surge Marine Life broke its silence, unveiling the latest captive-bred marine fish first. Barden’s company succeeded in producing the world’s first aquarium-bred Odontanthias katayamai, or Rose Anthias, in their Florida-based closed-system aquaculture facility.
The species is particularly noteworthy as one of the most expensive marine aquarium fish ever avialable in the aquarium trade. In recent years, single specimens have been marketed for $17,000 to $20,000 and pairs for $40,000, a price well-justified given their rarity in the trade. It’s justified when you consider that their native range is the subtropical Western Pacific, specifically the Mariana Islands, Taiwan, and southern Japan at a depth of 177 – 300 meters (581 to 984 feet), thus requiring tremendous and dedicated care to collect from the wild.
It’s also incredibly noteworthy for its unique fluorescent characteristics. This isn’t just a juvenile trait, as seen in the photo above. Check out this unique video of some adults!
Deepwater, subtropical fish like these often require dedicated care, so they’re a much safer bet when produced under aquarium conditions! It’s not as though anyone should expect to see these available for $19.99 at your local Petco next month. They will remain a rare and highly valued collector’s item for years to come, but they’re suddenly much more within reach than they once were. There is no word on when they’ll be made available for purchase, but you’ll find them at https://surgemarinelife.com/ when they are! Aquarists who like the look of this species, but can’t stomach the pricetag, might want to seek out the related Blotched Anthias, Odontanthis borbonius.
Watch the Eye-Popping Video Now!
