Description
Princess Anthias (Pseudanthias smithvanizi)
Overview
The Princess Anthias is a dazzling and elegant reef fish, displaying a vivid pink to orange body accented by lavender hues and a delicate yellow tail. Active, graceful, and full of personality, this species adds constant motion and brilliant color to any reef aquarium.
Origin
Found throughout the Indo-Pacific, particularly around Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Great Barrier Reef, the Princess Anthias inhabits outer reef slopes and drop-offs, where it forms loose schools in the water column.
Feeding
A planktivore that thrives on frequent feedings of finely chopped meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, copepods, brine shrimp, and high-quality marine pellets. Offer small meals two to three times daily to meet its active metabolism.
Tank Mates
Peaceful and reef-safe, it does well with other non-aggressive community fish such as gobies, fairy wrasses, and tangs. Best kept singly or in small harems (one male with several females) in spacious aquariums.
Aggression
Generally peaceful, though males may display dominance behaviors toward each other in confined tanks. Providing open swimming areas and hiding spots helps reduce stress and territoriality.
Experience Level
Recommended for intermediate aquarists. While hardy once acclimated, the Princess Anthias requires stable water quality, frequent feeding, and good flow to thrive long-term.
Water Parameters
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Temperature: 74°F – 80°F (23°C – 27°C)
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Salinity: 1.020 – 1.025 SG
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pH: 8.1 – 8.4
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Alkalinity: 8 – 12 dKH
Vibrant, peaceful, and constantly in motion, the Princess Anthias brings elegance and color to any mature reef system, making it a favorite among anthias enthusiasts.
