All fish / Labridae

Orange-back fairy wrasse

Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis

Also known as orangeback fairy wrasse, orange back fairy wrasse, orange-backed fairy wrasse, orangeback wrasse, aurantidorsalis wrasse, オレンジバックフェアリーラス, 橙背丝鳍鹦鲷

Males have a bright orange back running into a purple to blue lower body, and they show off vivid display colours when courting. It is a reef-safe, active swimmer that brings a lot of colour to a mixed reef without bothering corals or invertebrates.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with one or more females

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, quality pellets and flakes fed several times daily

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indonesia (Sulawesi, Moluccas) and nearby western Pacific

Breeding

Like other fairy wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in pairs in open water at dusk, releasing floating eggs. Captive breeding is rare and rearing the tiny larvae is very difficult.

Good to know

It is a skilled jumper, so a tightly fitting lid or mesh cover is essential. Males of fairy wrasses fight with one another, so keep only one male unless the tank is very large.