Purple Queen Anthias saltwater fish care guide

The Purple Queen Anthias, also traded as the Queen Purple, Amethyst, Sailfin, or Yellowstriped Anthias, is among the most vividly colored planktivores available to reef keepers. The body is slightly compressed and streamlined, washed in bright purple to plum, with an orange to yellow band running from the nose to the base of the pectoral fin. The species is sexually dimorphic: males carry a dark spot behind the dorsal fin along with yellow throat coloring, while females show a yellow stripe along the back and yellow markings on the tail lobes. Adults reach roughly 4.5 inches. The species was first documented off New Caledonia and ranges broadly through the Indo-West Pacific, from Mauritius through Indonesia and the Philippines to the Solomon Islands, Palau, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Housing should be a mature, well-established reef aquarium of at least 125 gallons, structured with abundant live rock, caves, and crevices. These anthias spend most of the day in the open middle water column, but they rely on rockwork as a retreat when startled or displaced by tankmates, so open swimming lanes paired with dense aquascaping suit them best. Water quality must be pristine and stable; this is an expert-level fish whose narrow dietary needs and sensitivity to declining conditions leave little margin for error. A single male kept with several females reproduces the natural harem structure and gives the group the security it needs to settle in.

In the wild, Purple Queen Anthias pick zooplankton, copepods, and small crustaceans from the current, supplementing that intake with marine algae. That grazing pattern of near-continuous small meals is the single most important thing to reproduce in captivity, and failure to do so is the usual reason the species declines.

Offer a varied carnivore diet built around mysid shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, copepods, and finely chopped frozen meaty preparations of zooplankton size. A constant infusion of live foods is ideal, particularly during the first weeks. Feed at least four times daily. Newly arrived specimens frequently refuse food, and the resulting malnutrition and stress leave them open to bacterial and parasitic problems, so acclimation in a quiet system with heavy, frequent feedings and minimal competition greatly improves the odds.

Mysid Shrimp Vitamin-Enriched Brine Shrimp Copepods Live Zooplankton Frozen Meaty Preparations
This is a peaceful, highly social species that lives in harem groups led by one dominant male. Rather than hiding, these fish hover and dart through the open water column all day, making them one of the more animated additions to a large reef. Keep one male with several females; a lone specimen tends to be nervous and is far less likely to feed reliably.

Choose tankmates that are equally calm and slow to the food. Boisterous or fast-feeding fish will outcompete the anthias and effectively starve them. The species is reef safe and will not harm corals or sessile invertebrates, which makes it a natural fit for mixed reef displays alongside other peaceful planktivores.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Purple Queen Anthias

  • How difficult is the Purple Queen Anthias to keep?
    This is an expert-level species, largely because newly arrived fish often refuse food and quickly become vulnerable to disease from malnutrition and stress. Success depends on pristine water and very frequent feedings of small zooplankton-type foods.
  • What size aquarium does a Purple Queen Anthias need?
    Plan on a minimum of 125 gallons for an adult harem. The aquarium should be mature and established, with generous live rock for shelter and ample open water for swimming.
  • Is the Purple Queen Anthias reef safe?
    Yes. It will not harm corals or sessile invertebrates, making it well suited to mixed reef displays.