Pseudanthias pascalus

(Jordan & Tanaka, 1927)

Purple Queen Anthias, Amethyst Anthias, Sailfin Anthias

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Southern Japan, and south to Bali, Australia and New Caledonia.

Size: 8 inches (20 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits reef areas having caves and coral outcrops where they form large groups and are usually found at depths between 15 to about 200 feet (5 – 60 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, and quite attractive. Males have a bright violet colored body and fins with an orange stripe from the tip of the snout to under the eye and to the base of the pectoral fin, and with a red patch on the rear of the dorsal. Some, possibly from Japan, have a yellow tail. Females are often similarly colored, yet may have a red tip on each tail lobe. Wide differences of coloration exist between areas of collection, and a similarly colored species, P. tuka.

Nevertheless, one of the more problematic species in this family diet-wise to maintain. Best maintained in aquaria with some rocky caves and strong water movement that has a large unencumbered area for schooling, which will occur in the upper third of this area. Tankmates should be peaceful and all should be last to enter the aquarium.

As to diet, difficult to get feeding, and fortified live adult brine shrimp may be necessary until they accept other types of aquarium foods, e.g., frozen foods and fresh marine fish and invertebrate flesh. Once accepting regular aquarium foods, those foods should be finely chopped and be offered at least twice daily, and dispensed upstream so water currents carry food to their location.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Serranidae

Subfamily: Anthiinae

Genus: Pseudanthias

FYI: Best maintained with one male and at least five females.

Can jump out of the aquarium, therefore some sort of cover may be necessary.

Difficult to maintain long-term.

Often loses its coloration and starves to death.

Best left in the wild.

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5