Orangebar Anthias
Pseudanthias engelhardi/carlsoni
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
|---|
Every order ships with our standard 3-hour live arrival guarantee. Need more time? Add our 5-Day Guarantee at checkout.
Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Planktivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 55 gallons |
| Max Size | 3 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Orangebar Anthias (often listed as Pseudanthias engelhardi / Pseudanthias carlsoni) is a small planktivore that spends much of its day in the open water column, then slips back into rockwork when startled. In established reef tanks, it becomes a consistent “midwater presence,” holding position and making short, quick feeding runs.
What You’ll Observe:
- Hovering in the mid-to-upper water column near ledges, then retreating into crevices between passes
- A “rush to food” response when fine foods are released into the current
- Short, frequent feeding bouts throughout the light cycle, instead of one long meal
- More confident open-water swimming as it learns the daily rhythm of your tank
How to succeed: Provide open swimming space with plenty of overhangs and caves so it can transition between cover and the water column easily. Offer small foods (mysis, enriched brine, copepod/zooplankton blends) in multiple small feedings, and let the flow carry food past the fish. When keeping more than one, introduce them with plenty of visual breaks in the rockwork so they can settle into a stable pecking order.
Is it normal for an anthias to hide the first day or two?
Yes—many anthias spend early days tucked into rockwork and begin making longer “laps” once they learn the feeding schedule in your tank.
Do Orangebar Anthias usually take pellets right away?
Some do, but many hobbyists report better results starting with small frozen foods and then mixing in tiny pellets or granules once the fish is eating aggressively.
Why does my anthias ignore food unless the pumps are running?
A common pattern is that anthias respond best when food is suspended and moving; releasing food upstream (into flow) often produces a faster feeding response.
Can I mix this anthias with other anthias types?
It can work in larger systems, especially when shapes/colors differ and there’s lots of midwater “room,” but hobbyists often plan the group carefully to reduce direct competition at feeding time.
Would an acclimation box help this fish settle in?
Many reefkeepers use acclimation boxes so new anthias can learn the tank’s feeding routine and visually adjust to tankmates before full release.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
Recently viewed products
