🚚 Dry goods ship Australia-wide 🐠 Livestock — buy online, collect in store 🧪 In-store water analysis
Fish

Purple Queen Anthias

Pseudanthias pascalus
$45Out of stock
Pickup in store onlySold
Buy online and collect at 280 North Road, Eastwood NSW 2122.
Open Mon–Sat 10am–6pm · Sun 1pm–6pm. Usually ready the same day.
Livestock is collection only — we don't ship live coral or fish. Anything else in the same order is ready to grab when you collect.
Currently out of stock — ask us in store about availability.
Out of stock — join the waiting list

Tell us the size and sex you're after and we'll source this fish from our suppliers, then email you the moment it's in.

Join the waiting list →
  • Kept in our system until you collect

About this fishWhat do these mean?

FamilyAnthias
Max size15 cm
Minimum tank400 L · 106 gal
Care levelIntermediate
Reef compatibilityReef safe
DietPlanktivore
TemperamentPeaceful
OriginIndo-Pacific

See the full care profile →

Overview

The Purple Queen Anthias is a strikingly coloured anthias with a deep purple-to-lavender body and a bright yellow or gold dorsal stripe running along the back, one of the more visually vivid anthias species commonly available. It's a naturally social, shoaling fish that shows its best colour and behaviour when kept in a small group rather than alone.

Like other anthias it's a constant, fast-metabolism feeder that needs regular meals of small meaty foods throughout the day, doing best in an established, stable tank with good water flow to support its active planktivorous lifestyle.

Its larger size compared to some other anthias and vivid colouration make it a popular centrepiece choice for a bigger reef display.

Compatibility

Purple Queen Anthias are peaceful and reef safe, ignoring corals and invertebrates entirely. They do best in a group of one male with several females, and can be housed with other peaceful reef fish without issue, though boisterous or aggressive tankmates can outcompete them for food.

Multiple males in a small tank may show aggression toward one another, so stocking ratios matter if keeping a group.

Health & quarantine

As with all anthias, this species can decline quickly if underfed or exposed to unstable water conditions, so a mature tank and consistent feeding schedule are essential. A minimum two-to-four-week quarantine with careful feeding monitoring is recommended, and new arrivals should be watched closely to confirm they're eating within the first few days.

Frequently asked questions

Should I keep Purple Queen Anthias alone or in groups?
In groups where possible — they're naturally social, shoaling fish and do best with one male and several females rather than as a lone individual.
How often do Purple Queen Anthias need to be fed?
Multiple times a day — at least three small feedings is ideal given their fast metabolism.
Is the Purple Queen Anthias reef safe?
Yes, fully reef safe with corals and invertebrates.
What happens if the male in a group dies?
A dominant female will typically change sex to become the new male, a behaviour common across anthias species.
What tank size suits a group of Purple Queen Anthias?
At least 400 litres to comfortably house a small group with room to establish a peaceful hierarchy.
Marine aquarium parametersOur recommended stable range for marine fish
Temp
24–26°C
Salinity
1.020–1.025
pH
8.1–8.4
Ammonia
0 ppm
Nitrite
0 ppm
Nitrate
< 40 ppm
Stability matters more than chasing perfect numbers. Quarantine new fish before adding them.

How collection works

1

Order & pay online

Check out and pay securely. We set it aside and hold it ready for you.

2

We get it ready

It stays in our system until you come in — usually ready the same day.

3

Collect in store

Drop in to 280 North Road, Eastwood, and pick it up.

You might also like

View all marine fish