Exquisite Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus)

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) Care

Overview

The Exquisite Fairy Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus exquisitus, comes from the Indo-West Pacific region. Males have a blue to red body with blue horizontal stripes and bright blue, markings on the fins. The coloring of the females is similar but is slightly less vibrant and in the red to burnt orange in body color.

Exquisite Fairy Wrasses can reach up to 5″ and require an aquarium of at least 60 gallons with plenty of live rock, hiding places, and a fine sand bed. They are jumpers and should be kept in an aquarium with a lid. They will likely hide for several days when first introduced to a new aquarium. A deep sand bed is not needed for this wrasse to bury itself in at night. Instead they may form a mucus cocoon or wedge themselves into rock crevices. Should they form a cocoon to sleep in there is no need to remove it from the tank.

They are peaceful and reef safe but do not do well with other males of their species, but can be house with several females. They should be housed with other peaceful fish.

Males may be aggressive towards other fairy wrasses and zooplankton feeders in the aquarium.

Feeding

The Exquisite Fairy Wrasse is carnivores and require a diet rich in meaty foods, such as brine and mysis shrimp, high-quality frozen foods, pieces of fresh seafood, and flake and pellet foods. They need to be fed two to three times a day to stay healthy.