Purple Queen Anthias - Medium

Purple Queen Anthias

The Purple Queen Anthias gets its name from its purple body. This colour is more vivid on males. There is a bluish tinge on its fins and its mouth and chin are yellow. Females have a yellow stripe that runs along their back onto the dorsal fin. Males have a purple blotch at the base of the dorsal fin.

This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. When required the dominant member of the group will change sex to male. It hasn't been possible to successfully breed them in captivity.

Purple Queen Anthias are located around the Indo-Pacific. Locations include Indonesia, the Philippines, Micronesia, Fiji, and the Great Barrier Reef. They inhabit outer reef slopes and drop-offs, between depths of 7-25 metres.

Tank Recommendations for Purple Stripe Dottyback

A single Purple Queen Anthias needs a tank size of a least 60 gallons (227 litres). A shoal should be housed in a tank of at least 125 gallons (473 litres).

Their most suitable environment is in a reef aquarium. The tank should be mature with plenty of live rock for hiding and swim-throughs. They are sensitive to water values and fluctuations can cause immediate health issues. A good current is required to maintain good health and activity.

It is preferable to have a deep sand bed (DSB), or a plankton-producing refugium. This species can jump out of an aquarium, so a secure lid is recommended.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Purple Queen Anthias have a peaceful temperament. Suitable companions are similar size reef fish and larger docile fish.

They may show aggression to fish which are of a similar species and gender.

Usually Compatible

Suitable companions include Angelfish, Blennies, Damselfish, Gobies, Hogfish, Tangs, and reef safe Wrasses.

Sometime Compatible

Conspecifics and similar species will need monitoring. Caution is also advised with Batfish, Eels, Lionfish/Scorpionfish, Triggerfish, and larger Wrasses.

Rarely Compatible

Avoid Shark, Rays, and Groupers. Seahorses and Pipefish are too delicate to cohabit with this species.

Feeding Your Purple Queen Anthias

Purple Queen Anthias are planktivores. The majority of their diet consists of zooplankton. A mature tank should contain a substantial amount of microinvertebrates. There should also be a good supply of amphipods and copepods available. A refugium attached to a tank can provide a supply of regular food. A diet should also contain meaty foods such as frozen seafood and cyclops. Shaved seafood, fish eggs and small live crustaceans. This species has a high metabolism and needs to be fed 3-4 times per day.