Purple Queen Anthias
Purple Queen Anthias, Pseudanthias tuka, is commonly found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Anthias are also commonly called Fairy Basslets in some parts of the country. Their gorgeous flowing fins no doubt inspired the Fairy reference and the Basslet portion of the name recognizes that they are the little cousins of Sea Basses and Groupers. Because of their small size, they do not pose a threat to other fish and make wonderful reef inhabitants. A typical meal for an Anthias is comprised of zooplankton and small animals such as Brine Shrimp and copepods. In the wild, Anthias form large schooling groups on the reefs. A single male will claim part of the reef as his and fight off other males that try to invade. The other Anthias present are juveniles and females, which the male keeps a watchful eye on. For aquariums, the females should be introduced first and a male at a later date.
Approximate Arrival Size for Anthias: Small: 1.5 to 2.5 in.; Medium: 2.5 to 3.5 in.; Large: 3.5 to 6 in.
Detailed Information about this species.
