Description

🐟 Redfin Fairy Wrasse — Description & Care Guide

📌 Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis

📌 Common Names: Redfin Fairy Wrasse, Red-finned Wrasse

📌 Origin: Western Pacific — particularly around Indonesia and the Philippines

📌 Type: Saltwater Reef Fish

🔍 Description

• Coloration: Males display vibrant red fins with a body that shifts between orange, pink, and iridescent blue; females and juveniles are generally paler.

• Size: Grows up to 3.5 inches (9 cm).

• Body Shape: Slender, torpedo-shaped body ideal for active swimming.

• Sexual Dimorphism: Males are more colorful, especially during courtship or dominance displays.

🧪 Aquarium Care

🏠 Tank Size

• Minimum: 40 gallons (150 liters)

• Larger tanks are preferred if keeping groups or multiple wrasses.

🌡️ Water Parameters

• Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)

• pH: 8.1–8.4

• Salinity: 1.020–1.025 SG

• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm — stable, clean water is essential

🧬 Behavior & Temperament

• Temperament: Peaceful, active, and social.

• Tankmates: Great with other peaceful reef fish. Avoid aggressive species or larger predatory wrasses.

• Reef Safe: ✅ 100% — does not harm corals or inverts.

• Activity: Constantly swimming in mid-water; may hide when first introduced.

👥 Social Structure

• Can be kept singly, as males and females, or in harems (1 male with multiple females).

• Avoid multiple males unless in large tanks — may fight for dominance.

🍽️ Feeding

• Diet: Carnivore (planktivore)

• Feed:

  • Frozen mysis shrimp

  • Brine shrimp

  • High-quality marine pellets

  • Enriched flake food

  • Copepods or live foods (optional but appreciated)

• Frequency: 2–3 small feedings per day

🛏️ Sleeping & Jumping

• Sleep Behavior: Dives into the sand or hides in rock crevices at night.

• Important: Jumping risk is high!

  • Always use a tight-fitting lid or mesh screen.

❗ Care Tips

• Acclimation: Use drip acclimation — wrasses are sensitive to sudden changes.

• Coloration: Color improves with a high-quality diet and low-stress environment.

• Lighting: Moderate to strong reef lighting enhances coloration.