Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus

Randall, 1992

Red-margin Fairy Wrasse

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Southern Japan to Indonesia, Palau, and east to Fiji and Tonga.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits rubble areas on deep coastal to outer reef drop-offs and steep slopes and usually found at depths between 85 – 200 feet (25– 60 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade with the male having a blue face and belly with small white spots, red body with dark blue spots, yellow and red tail, and red and yellow on the dorsal and anal fins. Females are generally overall reddish-orange with four pairs of small white spots on the back.

Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums that should have ample crevices and caves, and peaceful tankmates.

As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and should be offered two to three times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Labridae

Genus: Cirrhilabrus

FYI: May initially hide when first introduced, and are also good jumpers, therefore covered aquariums, possibly with eggcrate, are necessary to prevent them from jumping out of the aquarium.

They do not bury themselves in the sand at night, as do many other wrasses. Instead, they may form a mucus cocoon similar to some parrotfishes and/or wedge themselves into a rock crevice. It should be noted the cocoon remnants do not seem to harm water quality or other aquarium inhabitants.

Males may be aggressive towards other fairy wrasses and zooplankton feeders in the aquarium.

Experience Level: Intermediate

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: 60 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5