Purple Queen Anthias (Pseudanthias Tuka) Female

Care Level : Expert

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Purple, Orange

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Safe : Yes

Max Size : 7 inches

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Origin : Indo-Pacific

Family : Serranidae

Minimum Tank Size : 60 gallons

Purple Queen Anthias (Pseudanthias Tuka) or Yellowstriped Fairy Basslet is a schooling fish that is difficult to keep. Their striking colors make them very attractive.

The Purple Queen Anthias has a glowing purple body with long frilly fins. Usually there are orange highlights through the eyes. The upper portion of the snout is pointed slightly upward. Juvenile and female Pseudanthias Tuka have an orange stripe down the back and orange tail forks. Adult males have white or yellow jaws and usually have a dark patch on the dorsal fin. The dorsal fin may or may not have red between the spines and the tail on this species is always purple. The males are usually much more colorful than the females.

They are best kept in a reef tank of at least 60 gallons. You also want to have a lot of live rocks because they tend to swim out in the open but will need that overhanging and caves to hide during the night. Stressed anthias have been known to jump from an aquarium. Purple Queen Anthias should be introduced into your aquarium before other more active, territorial fishes so they can settle in with limited stress.

They can be kept as a mated pair, or in a small school of females. Avoid keeping two males in the same tank, as it can lead to extreme aggression. Suitable tankmates for anthias would be peaceful fish that will not harass these docile fish or outcompete them for food. They do well with other peaceful fish, but they won't do good with fish that are bullied, so make sure not to put them with anything too aggressive. Anthias are Reef Safe and are not normally known to bother corals or invertebrates.

The Purple Queen Anthias, is hermaphroditic meaning all are born females, and when needed the dominant female turns into male.

They are carnivores. Anthias have a speedy metabolism but a small stomach. Diet should include a variety of a steady supply of copepods, frozen mysis and vitamin enriched brine shrimp, as well as high quality flake foods 3-5 times daily.