Anyone Currently Keeping purple Queens?

[Maddlesrain]

I'm looking to add a group of purple queens (tuka) to my 180 gallon reef tank, and was hoping someone with current experience might be able to give me a few pointers! I've been researching like mad, but all the information on these fish seems relatively outdated. From what I've gathered, the fish aren't more delicate than most other anthias other than their aversion to eating. Once they begin eating, the next hurdle is getting them a continuous supply throughout the day. I've read mixed reviews on whether it's best to find larger or smaller specimens, but I'd like to get a group of small females and let them work out rankings amongst themselves. I'd love to hear any and all successes and failures from people who have kept or currently house these fish.

Thank you.

 

[Sabellafella]

I'm looking to add a group of purple queens (tuka) to my 180 gallon reef tank, and was hoping someone with current experience might be able to give me a few pointers! I've been researching like mad, but all the information on these fish seems relatively outdated. From what I've gathered, the fish aren't more delicate than most other anthias other than their aversion to eating. Once they begin eating, the next hurdle is getting them a continuous supply throughout the day. I've read mixed reviews on whether it's best to find larger or smaller specimens, but I'd like to get a group of small females and let them work out rankings amongst themselves. I'd love to hear any and all successes and failures from people who have kept or currently house these fish.

Thank you.

I loved my tukas, i had mine for almost 4 years until my house got ruined from hurricane sandy. Like every nicer species of anthias, they feed on crustaceans. So technically theyre all hard to get eating readily. I think it all comes down to the specimens you buy, they come in from shipping very skinny and then often starved. I blame my success on getting them very healthy in the first place. I had 7 total, I also got all female. 3 of them wound up turning into males and i never had an issue (other then chest puffing). I fed them lobster eggs mixed with cyclopeeze and frozen mysis. The first year i fed them (along with everyone else) 4 times a day, then took it down to 2. They are beautiful fish, please do not listen to the negative reviews on keeping them. If you do your research you can keep them, just make sure you buy them healthy.

 

[Sabellafella]

My tank now i keep evansi, very very similar to tuka

 

[Maddlesrain]

I loved my tukas, i had mine for almost 4 years until my house got ruined from hurricane sandy. Like every nicer species of anthias, they feed on crustaceans. So technically theyre all hard to get eating readily. I think it all comes down to the specimens you buy, they come in from shipping very skinny and then often starved. I blame my success on getting them very healthy in the first place. I had 7 total, I also got all female. 3 of them wound up turning into males and i never had an issue (other then chest puffing). I fed them lobster eggs mixed with cyclopeeze and frozen mysis. The first year i fed them (along with everyone else) 4 times a day, then took it down to 2. They are beautiful fish, please do not listen to the negative reviews on keeping them. If you do your research you can keep them, just make sure you buy them healthy.

Thank you for your response! I'm sorry for the loss of both your home and fish!
I'm actually looking at getting a group of seven coincidentally. Did you order yours or get them locally? I'm tempted to order my group from Blue Zoo Aquatics, but I'm a little worried about shipping.

 

[Maddlesrain]

My tank now i keep evansi, very very similar to tuka

They are beautiful!! Do you find them to be easier than the tuka?

 

[Sabellafella]

Thank you for your response! I'm sorry for the loss of both your home and fish!
I'm actually looking at getting a group of seven coincidentally. Did you order yours or get them locally? I'm tempted to order my group from Blue Zoo Aquatics, but I'm a little worried about shipping.

Yes i got them local but before they even reached my lfs system. My tank was around 210 gallons witch i think was the reason why the males werent fighting. To be honest both tuka and evensi were the same. Out of the group theres always the 1 or 3 that will pick at the food (spit it out, or just very picky on partical size). Blue zoo sells some healthy livestock also. My evansi i have now, i have to buy a specific brine shrimp for just 1 of them because thats all shell eat! My others are pigs, they eat nori if they have to ha!

 

[Sabellafella]

Welcome to r2r btw lol

 

[Maddlesrain]

Yes i got them local but before they even reached my lfs system. My tank was around 210 gallons witch i think was the reason why the males werent fighting. To be honest both tuka and evensi were the same. Out of the group theres always the 1 or 3 that will pick at the food (spit it out, or just very picky on partical size). Blue zoo sells some healthy livestock also. My evansi i have now, i have to buy a specific brine shrimp for just 1 of them because thats all shell eat! My others are pigs, they eat nori if they have to ha!

Welcome to r2r btw lol

Thanks for the Welcome!
There really is always that one picky fish! My fish all can't agree on one food, so I feed a variety of foods anyway.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Love these fish!

 

[Maddlesrain]

Love these fish!

Me too! They're so uniquely colored and beautiful looking!
I'm starting up a brine shrimp culture today, so maybe I'll be ordering my shoal this coming week! Still on the fence about having them shipped to me, but thinking it'll be the best option rather than picking them up at an lfs.

 

[ryecoon]

I Love Anthias. I have Lyetail, Dispars, blotch, sunburst, barlettes and bicolor all together with no problem. When i first tried to keep Anthias i didnt have any luck with Trios or im small groups. When i purchased a school they thrived. They are more comfortable and stress free in large numbers.

 

[Maddlesrain]

I Love Anthias. I have Lyetail, Dispars, blotch, sunburst, barlettes and bicolor all together with no problem. When i first tried to keep Anthias i didnt have any luck with Trios or im small groups. When i purchased a school they thrived. They are more comfortable and stress free in large numbers.

Beautiful tank and anthias!! I'm a huge fan of blotches anthias! Definitely on my list!


Not sure I'll be getting my group for a bit longer now because of a camping trip that came up. I leave in a little over a week, but I'm not sure it's enough time to get them settled before taking off.

 

[mrtian97]

I love my purple queen, she ate frozen mysis and brine but won't touch pellet. I ended up selling her since I travel quite a bit and have to use auto feeder

 

[Paul B]

I only have one of those but she is a perfect little fish. No trouble at all.


She eats new born brine shrimp from the feeder every day as many of my smaller fish do.

 

[Maddlesrain]

I love my purple queen, she ate frozen mysis and brine but won't touch pellet. I ended up selling her since I travel quite a bit and have to use auto feeder

Did you have to "train" her to eat the frozen or did she eat it right away? Also, did you order the fish or find it at an lfs? I'd love to find someone who's ordered them and had a nice survival rate! Too bad you had to give her up! We have someone stay at the house while we're away because of our other pets, so they feed the fish, but I understand being away often and feeling the stress of keeping everyone healthy!

I only have one of those but she is a perfect little fish. No trouble at all.


She eats new born brine shrimp from the feeder every day as many of my smaller fish do.

Beautiful fish, all of them!! Did you buy your anthia locally or order? That's a nifty feeder! May I ask how you made it? Luckily everyone, including my target mandarin, eats frozen right now, so I haven't had to resort to live yet, but I tried hatching some brine this week to test it out and like your set-up! It seems convenient and I'm a fan of the simplicity!

 

[ryecoon]

Im trying to order some Purple queens also. Any reliable online retailers?

 

[Paul B]

[QUOTE

Beautiful fish, all of them!! Did you buy your anthia locally or order? That's a nifty feeder! May I ask how you made it? Luckily everyone, including my target mandarin, eats frozen right now, so I haven't had to resort to live yet, but I tried hatching some brine this week to test it out and like your set-up! It seems convenient and I'm a fan of the simplicity![/QUOTE]

I never ordered a fish online as I am surrounded by LFSs here in New York. I wrote this about the feeder.
http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/diy-target-feeder-mandarinfish-pipefish-2804/

 

[Maddlesrain]

@Paul B Thank you very much for the link! I'm going to try my hand at one of these feeders for sure!