All fish / Labridae

Purple-boned Fairy Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus blatteus

Also known as purpleboned fairy wrasse, purple boned wrasse, blatteus fairy wrasse, purple-boned wrasse, blatteus wrasse, ブラッテウス, 紫骨丝鳍鹦鲷

Males are among the most striking fairy wrasses, with a violet to magenta body, yellow and red tones and a tall dark-edged dorsal fin. It lives on deep reef slopes and is prized by reef keepers because it is rare, colourful and safe with corals.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

One male, ideally with one or more females

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood and quality pellets, fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in pairs or harems in open water, and males put on vivid courtship displays. Captive breeding is almost unknown because the eggs and larvae are pelagic and tiny.

Good to know

It jumps readily, so the tank needs a tight lid. Because it comes from deep water it is rare and costly, and it should be acclimated slowly and kept away from aggressive tankmates.