Everything You Need to Know About the Purple Queen Anthias

In this article, we will be learning about one of the most beautiful fish in the tank that can catch anyone's eye, the Purple Queen Anthias.

Prices: They can be pretty expensive, and you have to spend about $60 to get one. Also, it is best to keep this fish in a school to do well in the tank.

Tank Size: It is best to keep them in a 75-gallon. Keeping them in good health and active is recommended if they are put in tanks of the appropriate size.

Care Level: Expert level. You have to do some particular things to keep these guys very happy, and that way, they will not perish.

Reef Compatibility: Yes, it is an excellent reef fish to have. They are recommended for old reef tanks because that's where they thrive.

Origin: Most of these fishes come from Australia along the great barrier reef.

Water Parameter

  • Temperature: 72-78 degrees Frahenheit
  • dKH: 8-12
  • Salinity: 1.020-1.025
  • pH: 8.1-8.4

Also, you want to ensure that your level stays pristine because any spike that would happen with your Ammonia, Nitrate, or salinity can hurt this fish.

Appearance

Maximum Size: They can get up to six inches long. It is a pretty significant Anthias. In that tank, however, they won't get more than 4-inches long.

Colors: They are bright purple colors that look like LED lights swimming in the tank. The males are usually more bright and pretty than their female counterparts. They typically have taller and longer streamers on the back of their fin and a tall top fin that can help you distinguish them.

Also, the males have a more pointy nose while the females have a round faces.

Diet

They are carnivores. Anthias have a speedy metabolism but a small stomach. So, feeding them small portions multiple times a day is best. 

The primary reason is they constantly swim throughout the day, so they lose most of their energy that multiple feedings can only revive.

So, make sure you have a variety of food ready. 

Another great thing about taking care of the Anthias is that you can have copepods. You could raise and breed live and tiny crustaceans in your tank. They can eat it when you are not home.

Compatibility

Anthis are Hermaphrodites. So, if the male were to perish, one of the females would morph into a male, including their colors and body shape changes.

It is best to have only one male with multiple females in the tank. 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.

So pair them with peaceful fishes like Tangs, Clownfish, Wrasse, Gobby, etc.

With one male in the tank, you want to have at least three females. So, get a food school, and they will be really happy. However, having multiple males in the tank usually leads to aggressive fights over territory. So, you want to ensure you only have one male in the tank.

They are best kept in a well-aged reef tank. 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.

They like a very high current tank. So you'll see them swim very hard into the current where your powerheads blow the most.

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