Flame fairy wrasse

Care at a glance

Overview

House it in a 340 litre or larger reef tank at 22 to 26 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 with a tight lid, since it jumps readily. It is reef safe and leaves corals and clams alone, feeding on zooplankton, so provide mysis, enriched brine shrimp, and pods two to three times a day. It is peaceful, and a single male with a few females makes a striking, calm display group.

In the wild

The flame fairy wrasse comes from deeper Hawaiian reefs where it lives in harems of one bright male and several females. It hovers above rubble slopes picking plankton from the current. The fiery orange and red male is one of the most sought after Hawaiian wrasses. It needs shaded rockwork and open water to swim.

Good to know

Cirrhilabrus jordani is a Hawaiian endemic fairy wrasse in the family Labridae. Because it comes from cooler, deeper water it does well at slightly lower aquarium temperatures than most reef fish. Females can develop into males when a dominant male is absent.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Solar fairy wrasse

  Cirrhilabrus solorensis

  4.3 in (11 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)

  4.3 in (11 cm)90 gal (340 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Exquisite fairy wrasse

  Cirrhilabrus exquisitus

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• 

  Lineatus fairy wrasse

  Cirrhilabrus lineatus

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  4.7 in (12 cm)90 gal (340 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Lubbock's fairy wrasse

  Cirrhilabrus lubbocki

  3.1 in (8 cm) · 55 gal (208 L)

  3.1 in (8 cm)55 gal (208 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Scott's fairy wrasse

  Cirrhilabrus scottorum

  5.1 in (13 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)

  5.1 in (13 cm)90 gal (340 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Social fairy wrasse

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  2.8 in (7 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)

  2.8 in (7 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)