All fish / Labridae

Blueside Fairy Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura

Also known as blue-sided fairy wrasse, blueside wrasse, blue-scaled fairy wrasse, yellowflank fairy wrasse, yellow-flanked fairy wrasse, blue fairy wrasse, cyanopleura wrasse, ハナビラベラ, 蓝侧丝隆头鱼, 蓝身丝隆头鱼

A slender reef wrasse in which males show blue to purple flanks, a yellowish area behind the head and long, colourful fins, while females are duller reddish brown. It is popular in reef tanks because it is safe with corals and invertebrates, swims actively in open water and males put on bright flashing displays.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with one or more females; only one male per tank unless the tank is very large

Diet

Carnivore: zooplankton feeder taking mysis, brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped seafood and quality pellets, several small feeds a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific: Andaman Sea, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, northern Australia, north to Japan

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in pairs or harems, releasing floating eggs in the water column, often around dusk. Spawning happens in aquariums but rearing the tiny pelagic larvae is very difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

It jumps readily, so a tight-fitting lid or mesh cover is essential. Males fight with other male fairy wrasses, and similar species such as C. lyukyuensis are often sold under the same name.