All fish / Labridae

Girdled Fairy Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus balteatus

Also known as girdled fairy wrasse, belted fairy wrasse, balteatus fairy wrasse, balteatus wrasse, marshall islands fairy wrasse

A slender fairy wrasse in which males show a pinkish red body, a pale yellowish band or girdle across the middle and blue edging on the fins, while females are plainer reddish orange. It is kept for the striking male display colours and because it is reef safe and active in open water.

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

250 litres

Keep as

One male with one or more females

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods and quality marine pellets fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Marshall Islands and Kiribati (Gilbert Islands), western Pacific

Breeding

A protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in pairs or harems in open water, with males displaying at dusk. Spawning sometimes happens in aquariums but raising the tiny pelagic larvae has rarely been achieved.

Good to know

It is a rare, costly fish from a small range, and like other fairy wrasses it jumps readily, so a tightly covered tank is needed. Keep only one male per tank unless it is very large.