Princess Anthias
Pseudanthias smithvanizi
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
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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 | Semi-Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Planktivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 55 gallons |
| Max Size | 4 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Princess Anthias (Pseudanthias smithvanizi), also sold as Smith’s Anthias, is a deep-water anthias known for pink-to-red body color and a lyretail profile that stands out in the water column. It’s often listed from the Central Pacific and is a strong fit for reef aquariums that feature shaded ledges and overhangs.
What You’ll Observe:
- Hovering and cruising in the mid-to-upper water column, then weaving back to the rockwork between feeding times
- Quick, coordinated rush behavior when small foods hit the water, with repeated passes through the same lane
- Short display bursts where a dominant fish intensifies color and flares fins near the group
- A consistent routine of using the same overhangs and caves as home base, especially when lighting changes
To succeed with this species, provide a rockscape with multiple ledges and dimmer zones so it can choose comfortable perches throughout the day. Offer small, plankton-sized meaty foods in several small feedings, mixing items like mysis, enriched brine, cyclops, and other fine frozen blends. In larger aquariums, this anthias is commonly kept as a single dominant fish with multiple companions for a natural social layout.
Do Princess Anthias stay in a tight school all day?
They usually form a loose group that spreads out to feed, then regathers around favored rock ledges and overhangs.
Will one Princess Anthias become the male over time?
In groups, a dominant individual can transition and take on stronger display behavior and coloration as the social structure settles.
Is it normal for them to pick a corner or one ledge as their main spot?
Yes—many keepers notice they adopt a specific overhang or lane in the rockwork and repeatedly return to it between swims.
Do they typically accept pellets once established?
Many will learn pellets over time, especially when small pellets are offered alongside frozen foods so they can match the size and drift they’re used to.
Can Princess Anthias be mixed with other anthias species?
They’re often kept as a single anthias type per tank unless the system is large enough to give each group its own space and consistent feeding zones.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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