Description

🐟 Lineatus Wrasse — Description & Care Guide

📌 Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus lineatus

📌 Common Names: Lineatus Fairy Wrasse, Purple-Lined Fairy Wrasse

📌 Origin: Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, and Western Pacific

📌 Type: Marine Wrasse (Fairy Wrasse group)

🔍 Description

• Coloration:

  • Males: Electric rainbow hues — bright pink to purple body with vibrant horizontal neon blue lines (hence “lineatus”). Yellow-orange dorsal fin with iridescent highlights, especially during courtship.

  • Females/Juveniles: More subdued — pale pink with faint striping.

• Size: Up to 5 inches (12.5 cm)

• Sexual Dimorphism: Strong — males are dramatically more colorful, especially when flashing or courting.

🧪 Aquarium Care

🏠 Tank Size

• Minimum: 75 gallons (283 liters)

• Larger tanks preferred for full adult size, swimming space, or groups.

🌡️ Water Parameters

• Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)

• pH: 8.1–8.4

• Salinity: 1.023–1.025 SG

• Nitrates/Ammonia: Near 0 — prefers high water quality

🧬 Behavior & Temperament

• Temperament: Peaceful — ideal for reef/community tanks

• Reef Safe: ✅ Yes — will not harm corals or invertebrates

• Tankmates: Compatible with other peaceful reef fish, including other fairy and flasher wrasses (with caution)

• Social Behavior:

  • Can be kept singly, or as a harem (1 male with 2–3 females)

  • Avoid multiple males unless tank is very large

🍽️ Diet & Feeding

• Diet: Carnivore (planktivore)

• Will eat:

  • Frozen mysis and brine shrimp

  • Copepods

  • Enriched flakes or pellets

  • Reef plankton/zooplankton foods

• Feeding Frequency: 2–3 times daily

🛏️ Jumping & Sleeping

• Jump Risk: Extremely high — secure lid or mesh cover is essential

• Sleeping Behavior: Wedges into rockwork at night; does not bury in sand

🪸 Tank Setup

• Provide:

  • Ample rockwork for hiding

  • Open water for swimming

  • Moderate to strong lighting to showcase colors

  • Moderate flow

✅ Pros

• Among the most stunning wrasses in the hobby

• Reef-safe, peaceful, and easy to feed

• Active and entertaining to watch

• Compatible with a wide variety of reef-safe species

⚠️ Considerations

• Price: Often a premium fish ($150–300+ depending on size and sex)

• Lid Required: Known to jump when startled or excited

• Acclimation: Needs slow acclimation due to sensitivity to salinity changes