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Purple Tilefish
Tilefish

Purple Tilefish

Hoplolatilus purpureus

The purple sand tilefish is a shy, torpedo-shaped zooplanktivore that digs a burrow in a sand-and-rubble patch and hovers just above it, darting for cover at the slightest disturbance. It is peaceful and fully reef-safe, best kept as a bonded pair, but it's one of the most notorious jumpers in the hobby — a tight, gap-free lid is essential.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
5.1"
Min tank
50 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Planktivore
Zone
Bottom, Sand bed, Mid-water
Keep one or a bonded pair.
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Tankmates

How Purple Tilefish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Purple Tilefish and may harass it.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Purple Tilefish and may harass it.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Tilefish.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Tilefish.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Tilefish.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Tilefish.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Purple Tilefish and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Purple Tilefish and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Purple Tilefish and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Purple Tilefish and may harass it.Dogface PufferDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Tilefish.Lunare WrasseLunare Wrasse (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Purple Tilefish and may harass it.Spanish HogfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Tilefish.