All fish / Labridae

Finespotted fairy wrasse

Cirrhilabrus punctatus

Also known as fine-spotted fairy wrasse, finespot fairy wrasse, dotted wrasse, punctatus fairy wrasse, spotted fairy wrasse, fine spotted fairy wrasse, クロヘリイトヒキベラ, 细斑丝隆头鱼, 斑点仙女隆头鱼

Males are a dusky purple or bluish green covered in fine pale spots, with a dark-edged dorsal fin and a long, colourful pelvic fin, while females are plainer and more reddish brown. It is a lively, reef-safe swimmer that adds constant movement to coral tanks and leaves corals and invertebrates alone.

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

200 litres

Keep as

One male with one or more females; only one male per tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, enriched brine shrimp, chopped seafood, small pellets and flakes 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, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, so females can change into males, and pairs spawn in the water column at dusk after a showy male display. Spawning sometimes happens in large tanks, but the tiny pelagic larvae are very hard to rear.

Good to know

Like other fairy wrasses it jumps readily, so a tight-fitting lid or mesh cover is essential. Males can fight with other Cirrhilabrus males, so keep only one unless the tank is very large.