All fish / Labridae

Lined Fairy Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus lineatus

Also known as lined fairy wrasse, purple-lined fairy wrasse, lineatus fairy wrasse, lined wrasse, purple lined wrasse, cirrhilabrus lineatus wrasse, ラインド・フェアリーラス, 线纹丝隆头鱼

Males are some of the most striking fairy wrasses, with a yellow to green head, violet body and fine blue lines along the flanks and fins. It is a peaceful, active open-water swimmer that suits reef tanks and is safe with corals and most invertebrates.

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 with one or more females

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, copepods, quality frozen and pellet foods fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea (Australia) to New Caledonia

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, so females can turn into males, and pairs spawn in the water column at dusk. Eggs and larvae are pelagic and captive rearing is very rarely achieved.

Good to know

Like other fairy wrasses it jumps readily, so a tight-fitting lid is essential. Being a deeper-water Australian species, it is uncommon and costly, and males may quarrel with other fairy wrasse males in smaller tanks.