Purple Queen Anthias - Male

The male Purple Queen Anthias (Mirolabrichthys tuka, formerly Pseudanthias tuka) is a spectacular saltwater fish prized for its intense purple-to-magenta coloration and elegant fin development. Mature males are typically more uniformly purple than females, with a yellowish snout or jaw area, a prominent dark purple blotch toward the rear of the dorsal fin, elongated dorsal-fin rays, and extended lobes on the deeply forked tail. These dramatic features make the male especially striking when displayed in a mature reef aquarium.

Native to the Indo-West Pacific, this species occurs from Mauritius through Indonesia and the Philippines to Palau, the Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. Purple Queen Anthias inhabit outer reef slopes and drop-offs, where aggregations swim above the reef structure and continuously capture zooplankton carried by the current.

Despite its exceptional appearance, the Purple Queen Anthias is a demanding marine aquarium fish and is best suited to experienced aquarists. Feeding acclimation is often the greatest challenge, as newly imported specimens may refuse conventional prepared foods and require frequent offerings of small planktonic foods. A large, mature reef aquarium with abundant microfauna, strong water movement, and a consistent feeding routine provides the best environment for long-term success.

Quick Care Guide

Care Level: Expert Only
Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore / Planktivore
Reef Safe: Yes
Region: Indo-West Pacific – Mauritius through Indonesia and the Philippines to Palau, Solomon Islands, and Great Barrier Reef
Scientific Name: Mirolabrichthys tuka (formerly Pseudanthias tuka)

Tank Requirements

Provide a large, mature marine aquarium with extensive open swimming space above and around the rockwork. Purple Queen Anthias are active water-column fish that naturally remain above steep reef slopes, making a long aquarium with generous horizontal swimming room particularly suitable.

Include caves, ledges, overhangs, and shaded retreats where the male can shelter at night or temporarily escape social interactions. When maintained with additional anthias, multiple separate retreat areas are especially important.

Moderate to strong, well-distributed water movement helps recreate the current-rich conditions of its natural habitat and keeps small foods suspended where the fish can feed naturally. Strong oxygenation and efficient filtration are essential because the frequent feeding required by this species can substantially increase nutrient input.

A securely fitted mesh screen or aquarium lid is recommended, as anthias may jump when startled or chased.

Diet and Feeding

The Purple Queen Anthias is a specialized carnivorous planktivore that naturally feeds on planktonic crustaceans, fish eggs, and other tiny foods suspended in the water column.

Offer a varied diet including copepods, enriched brine shrimp, finely sized mysis shrimp, calanus, frozen plankton blends, fish eggs, and finely chopped marine foods. Once acclimated, some individuals may also accept appropriately sized high-quality pellets or flakes, but prepared dry foods should not be relied upon during initial conditioning.

Provide at least three to four small meals throughout the day, with additional small feedings beneficial whenever practical. Automatic feeding can be useful after the fish reliably accepts suitable prepared foods.

Monitor feeding response and body condition closely. Purple Queen Anthias can lose weight rapidly when they are not consuming enough food, making prompt attention to reduced appetite especially important.

Temperament and Tankmates

Male Purple Queen Anthias are generally peaceful toward unrelated marine fish but can become territorial toward other anthias, especially competing males. Within a group, the dominant male typically maintains his position through displaying and occasional chasing.

Suitable tankmates include fairy and flasher wrasses, gobies, blennies, cardinalfish, tangs, peaceful angelfish, and other reef-safe species that will not continually intimidate or outcompete the anthias at feeding time.

Avoid highly aggressive or excessively boisterous tankmates. Maintaining more than one mature male is generally not recommended unless the aquarium is exceptionally large and provides substantial separation between territories.

A single male may be maintained alone or, in an appropriately spacious aquarium, with several compatible females to create a more natural social arrangement.

Reef Compatibility

The male Purple Queen Anthias is considered reef safe and is an excellent choice for coral-dominated aquariums when its demanding husbandry requirements can be met.

It does not normally consume or damage stony corals, soft corals, clams, or other sessile reef organisms. It is also generally compatible with ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, and other established reef invertebrates.

Copepods and other tiny planktonic crustaceans will naturally be consumed as part of its normal feeding behavior.

Water Parameters

Temperature: 75–80°F
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Maintain exceptionally stable, well-oxygenated water with consistently high water quality. Efficient filtration and nutrient management are especially important because this species requires multiple daily feedings. Stability is more important than attempting to maintain one exact value within these ranges.

Common Considerations

• Challenging feeder: Newly introduced males may refuse prepared foods and require small frozen or planktonic offerings during acclimation.

• Frequent feeding: Multiple small meals throughout the day are essential for maintaining proper body condition.

• Male coloration: Mature males develop predominantly purple coloration, a yellowish snout, a dark dorsal blotch, and elongated dorsal and tail-fin rays.

• Male territoriality: May chase other anthias, particularly rival males competing for dominance.

• Mature aquarium preferred: Established live rock, abundant microfauna, strong water movement, and excellent water quality greatly improve long-term suitability.