All fish / Labridae

Redfin fairy wrasse

Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis

Also known as redfin wrasse, red-fin fairy wrasse, redfin fairy wrasse, red fin fairy wrasse, red-finned fairy wrasse, ヒレナガイトヒキベラ, 红鳍仙女隆头鱼

A slender fairy wrasse in which males show a reddish to purple body with bright red pelvic and dorsal fins, while females are plainer pink and orange. It is kept for its colour, active swimming in open water and safe behaviour around corals and invertebrates.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

9 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

Diet

Carnivore: frozen mysis and brine shrimp, copepods, quality marine pellets and flakes, fed several times daily

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia and nearby reefs

Breeding

Like other fairy wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite, so females can change into males, and pairs spawn in open water at dusk with males giving vivid displays. The floating eggs and tiny larvae make captive rearing very difficult and rarely achieved at home.

Good to know

Fairy wrasses are known jumpers, so a tight-fitting lid is essential. Keep only one male per tank unless it is very large, as males may fight.