Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis

Springer & Randall, 1974

Social Fairy Wrasse

Range: Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Gulf of Oman, and South Africa.

Size: 3 inches (8 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits rubble areas on fringing reefs and usually found at depths between 10 – 150 feet (3– 45 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Common in the trade with the highly attractive male generally having a reddish upper body and white lower body, red dorsal having bluish dots and blue edged red anal fin, and blue on the tail. Females are orange-red with fine blue lines along the body and a dark spot on the caudal peduncle.

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: Those in this genus may hide for several days 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 don't 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.

One male per aquarium.

Experience Level: Beginner

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: 30 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5