All fish / Labridae

Red-head fairy wrasse

Cirrhilabrus solorensis

Also known as solor wrasse, solorensis fairy wrasse, red head fairy wrasse, redhead fairy wrasse, solar fairy wrasse, red-headed fairy wrasse, solor fairy wrasse, ソロレンシス, ソロレンシスベラ, keling solor, 红头仙女, 红头仙女鱼

Males are a striking fish with a deep red head, green to bluish body and purple-edged fins, while females are plainer pink-red. They are reef safe, active open-water swimmers that add colour and movement to a reef tank, and males flash brightly when displaying.

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 several females; only one male per tank

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific: Indonesia (Lesser Sunda Islands, Flores, Solor, Bali) to Timor

Breeding

Like other fairy wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite, so females can change into males, and pairs spawn in the water column at dusk releasing pelagic eggs. Raising the tiny larvae in home aquariums is very difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Fairy wrasses are expert jumpers, so a tight-fitting lid or mesh cover is essential. Keep only one male per tank and avoid housing with large aggressive fish; it can look very similar to related species such as C. rubrimarginatus and C. lubbocki.