Fun Purple Queen Fish Facts For Kids

Moumita Dutta
Oct 20, 2022 By Moumita Dutta
Originally Published on Aug 05, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
Fact-checked by Oluwapelumi Iwayemi
Purple queen fish facts are interesting

Purple queen anthias (Pseudanthias tuka) is a type of fish that is said to have originated from the great barrier reef and the coral sea. The purple queenfish has a striking color and its minimal features make it stand out.

It is called the purple queen, because of its bright purple-colored body. Both males and females are pretty similar to look at, except for a yellow stripe that only females have.

This yellow stripe starts from the back and goes on till the end of the caudal fin. They also have a yellow tint on their cheeks.

This species (purple queen anthias) prefer to swim at a certain depth. Therefore, it is advised to keep your purple rose queen fish in a tank and not a small aquarium. A tank will allow them enough space to swim.

They also prefer hiding spaces, so they should have rocks and other elements to make them comfortable and avoid stress to them. Queenfish prefers marines insects and small animals (such as shrimp) to eat.

Their diet should be well structured based on their requirements. To take proper care of them, one needs to feed them constantly. To feed them correctly, a good amount of research, as well as observation, is required.

The male fishes are more dominant and aggressive compared to their female counterparts who are considered peaceful. They are very difficult to keep and is therefore recommended to be kept by experts only. Naturally, they are marine animals that prefer a large number of rocks and sand for their habitat.

If you like reading animal facts, do check out brain coral and milkfish.

Purple Queen Fish Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a purple queen fish?

Purple queen fish (Pseudanthias tuka) is a type of fish.

What class of animal does a purple queen fish belong to?

Purple Anthias (Pseudanthias tuka) belongs to the class of Actinopterygii.

How many purple queen fish are there in the world?

The exact figure for the number of this species (Pseudanthias tuka) of fish is not known.

Where does a purple queen fish live?

Purple anthias or queen fish live in West Pacific. They are also found in the ocean of the Philippines, northeast Australia, and Indonesia.

What is a purple queen fish's habitat?

This species of fish is mostly found in large numbers along the edge of the reef. They are not seen on the surface but prefer swimming deep. A purple queen habitat consists of a tropical environment and a deep marine body.

Who do purple queen fish live with?

Purple anthias (Pseudanthias tuka) like most fish live in groups of their own. These groups are called schools.

How long does a purple queen fish live?

The lifespan of a queenfish is not known. However, purple anthias are considered to be extremely delicate and develop diseases easily.

How do they reproduce?

The spawning process generally starts in November or February. However, it varies in different locations and climatic conditions.

Like other fishes, the female species lay eggs and the males release sperm cells. Once the fish has laid eggs, it becomes the duty of both the parents to protect them from possible marine predators. The baby queen fishes leave its parents soon after being born.

What is their conservation status?

According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN Red List), the conservation status of purple queen anthias (Pseudanthias tuka) is of the Least Concern. It also said that the population of this species is stable.

Purple Queen Fish Fun Facts

What do purple queen fish look like?

One of the most striking features of queen fish (Pseudanthias tuka) is its pink, purple, and yellow color. However, the females have an additional yellow stripe at the back, extending to their caudal fin. Males have a purple stain towards the end of their dorsal fin.

How cute are they?

The color and the simple texture of these fish make them very cute to look at. The bright purple color of the species that appear blue underwater adds to their beauty.

How do they communicate?

Purple queen anthias (Pseudanthias tuka) like most fishes use sound waves to communicate inside water.

How big is a purple queen?

The average size of this species is 4-5 in. However, it can grow up to a length of 7 in (max size). A yellow tang fish is slightly shorter than the size of a purple queen anthias.

How fast can a purple queen swim?

The exact speed of a purple queenfish (Pseudanthias tuka) is not known. They are known to be calm but are generally found deep inside the water body. Therefore, it is assumed that it can swim at a moderate speed.

How much does a purple queen weigh?

The exact weight of the fish is not known.

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male and female species of fishes do not have separate names and are referred to as female purple queen and male purple queen.

What would you call a baby purple queen?

A baby purple queen is referred to as a fry.

What do they eat?

A purple queen diet consists of a lot of elements. However, it prefers to eat plankton, amphipods, copepod, shrimp, and other marine insects and animals.

Are they eaten by humans?

Yes, these fishes are eaten by humans. It is considered to have a high nutritional value, and a great taste.

Would they make a good pet?

It is very hard to pet a purple queen anthias. They are peaceful but often get sick if not provided with the right care. They also require immense feeding, and that requires live species to balance their nutrition.

The size and elements in the aquarium are also one of the most important factors to understand before getting them. It is advised to keep them in an aquarium with a proper tank size for better movement. It is also difficult to feed them in a home aquarium.

Did you know...

Although they are considered to be peaceful, keeping a lot of male species in a tank can disrupt the peace and ignite aggression. Therefore, multiple females can be kept together in a tank.

Having your own purple queen

If you love fishes and want to get one of these species then make sure that you are well aware of its diet. It is one of those fishes, that require food more often. It should be well balanced and avoid over-feeding.

They catch diseases easily, therefore a proper diet is extremely important. Apart from diet, the aquarium has to be big enough to provide plenty of space for swimming. It should also have rocks, and other elements to make them feel at home.

What is special about purple queens?

It is one of the very few species of anthias that does not show sexual dimorphism. Pseudanthias tuka (purple queen anthias) are hermaphroditic. This means that they are all born females, and the aggressive ones change to male.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish including codfish, or immortal jellyfish.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our purple queen coloring pages.

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Sources

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/purple-queen-pseudanthias-tuka/

http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/wiki/Pseudanthias_tuka

https://megaquarium.fandom.com/wiki/Purple_Queen_Anthia

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Written by Moumita Dutta

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

Moumita Dutta picture

Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.

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Fact-checked by Oluwapelumi Iwayemi

Bachelor of Science specializing in Systems Engineering

Oluwapelumi Iwayemi picture

Oluwapelumi IwayemiBachelor of Science specializing in Systems Engineering

Iwayemi is a creative content writer and editor studying for a Bachelor of Science specializing in Systems Engineering from the University of Lagos. He is skilled in research and has experience writing and editing content for different organizations.

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