Exquisite Fairy Wrasse

Overview

Key Characteristics

• Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
• Size: Can grow up to 5 inches in length.
• Habitat: Found in the Indo-Pacific region, from East Africa to the Tuamotu Islands, inhabiting reef slopes and lagoons with moderate to strong currents.
• Appearance: Males are generally more colorful than females, displaying hues of green, red, blue, orange, and purple, often with a black spot at the base of the tail. Females typically have more subdued, olive or reddish-brown coloration.
• Temperament: Generally peaceful, making it suitable for community reef tanks. It can be aggressive toward other wrasses of the same species or similar appearance, so it is best to keep only one male per tank or a single male with several females.
• Reef Safe: Yes, it is considered reef-safe as it typically will not harm corals or invertebrates, although caution is advised with very small crustaceans like “sexy shrimp”. 

Aquarium Care

• Tank Requirements: A minimum of a 50 to 90 gallon aquarium with plenty of live rock for hiding places and ample swimming space is recommended. Moderate to strong water flow is preferred.
• Diet: They are carnivores and thrive on a varied diet of high-quality, vitamin-enriched frozen and live foods, such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and copepods. They should be fed small amounts several times a day due to their high metabolism and active nature.
• Gender Change: Like many wrasses, the Exquisite Fairy Wrasse is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning all start as females, and the largest female in a group can change sex to become the dominant male if needed. 

Approximate Purchase Size: Medium: 2″ to 3″; Large: 3″ to 4″