All fish / Labridae

Scott's Fairy Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus scottorum

Also known as scott's fairy wrasse, scotts fairy wrasse, scott's wrasse, scotts wrasse, scott's velvet wrasse, scott's flasher wrasse, scottorum fairy wrasse, スコッツ・フェアリーラス, 斯氏丝隆头鱼, 史氏仙女

Males show a green to purple body with a magenta or red head and a dark blotch along the flanks, putting on a bright flashing display when courting, while females are plainer and reddish. It is a peaceful, reef-safe wrasse that swims in open water feeding on tiny plankton, which makes it a lively and colourful choice for coral tanks.

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; only one male per tank

Diet

Carnivore: zooplankton feeder taking mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods and quality small pellets several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western and central Pacific: Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa to French Polynesia and the Pitcairn Islands

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, so females can turn into males, and pairs spawn in open water after a dusk display, scattering pelagic eggs. Rearing the tiny larvae in captivity is very difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

It is a skilled jumper, so the tank needs a tight-fitting lid or mesh cover. Two males in one tank will fight, and it may bully smaller, timid fairy wrasses.