Care Level: Advanced
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
General Description: The Purple Queen Anthias is one of the most sought after Anthais species, but is best left to advanced and expert level aquarists due to their fragile nature and difficulty adapting to aquarium life. They feature a gorgeous purple/pink body, blue edging on its fins, and a multi-colored face with a yellow chin. This color intensified with maturity, especially in males. 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. Adult males can reach up to 7 inches in length with females being smaller.
Diet Requirements: In the wild Anthias feed on zooplankton and occur in areas with strong currents such as reef faces, slopes, drop off zones. Purple Queen Anthias can have difficulty adapting to prepared aquarium diets and require multiple small meals of live foods to start. AÂ steady supply of copepods, frozen mysis and vitamin enriched brine shrimp, as well as high quality flake foods can be offered 3-5 times daily once established.
Care Requirements: Purple Queen Anthias do best in a stable and well established aquarium of at least 75 gallons. They are peaceful and may be kept in a reef tank setting with plenty of live rock, but since they are one of the more sensitive species of Anthias, they will require expert care, attention and optimal water chemistry. To best recreate a natural reef environment for the Purple Queen Anthias aquascape with a generous amount of live rock and create slopes, caves, and overhangs for an interesting and diverse reef aquarium landscape. They are considered reef safe and will not bother coral or other invertebrates. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.Â
Purchase Size: Small: 1-1/2″ to 2-1/4″ Medium: 2-1/4″ to 4″ Large: 4″ to 6″
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase size is approximate.Â
Â
