All fish / Labridae

Rosy-scales Fairy Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis

Also known as rosy scales fairy wrasse, red-scaled fairy wrasse, rubrisquamis wrasse, rosy-scaled fairy wrasse, red scale fairy wrasse, ルブリスクアミス, 红鳞仙女隆头鱼

A small deep-water fairy wrasse from the Indian Ocean. Males are pinkish orange with a vivid red patch of scales on the chest and a long, colourful dorsal fin, which they flash in display. It is prized as a rare, reef-safe, active swimmer for peaceful reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

8 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; one male per tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped seafood and quality pellets, fed two or three times daily

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Indian Ocean: Chagos Archipelago and Maldives

Breeding

A protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in the water column at dusk after male displays. Eggs and larvae are pelagic and it has rarely, if ever, been raised in home aquariums.

Good to know

It is a skilled jumper, so the tank must have a tight lid or mesh cover. Many fish are sold under the label 'Yes', which is a supplier or naming error. Look-alikes such as C. rubrisquamis-type wrasses from Indonesia are often mislabelled, so check the fish's origin.