Lineatus Fairy Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus lineatus

Also known as Lined Fairy Wrasse, Purplelined Wrasse, Lavender Fairy Wrasse

SaltwaterFish

Lineatus Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lineatus) — Jokuyken15 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 8.1–8.4
Adult size: 4.7 in (12 cm)
Minimum tank: 90 gal (340 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Common
Reef safe: Reef safe
Origin: Found on deeper outer reef slopes of the western Pacific, from the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea north to the Ryukyu Islands.
Family: Labridae

Overview

Keep it in a 340 litre or larger reef tank at 23 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 with a tight fitting lid, as fairy wrasses are strong jumpers. It is fully reef safe and ignores corals and clams, feeding instead on zooplankton, so offer mysis, enriched brine shrimp, and pods two to three times daily. It is peaceful with other fish, but add it as the last wrasse to avoid squabbles with lookalike species.

In the wild

The lineatus fairy wrasse lives on rubble and coral slopes below the surge zone, usually in loose groups led by a dominant male. Males patrol open water above the reef and flare their fins to display, while females stay closer to shelter. It hunts tiny animals drifting in the water column and picks them from the rock. A tank with live rock, open swimming lanes, and a secure lid suits it well.

Good to know

Cirrhilabrus lineatus belongs to the wrasse family Labridae in the large fairy wrasse genus. Males can intensify their colors within seconds during courtship or disputes, a display often called flashing. All fairy wrasses begin as females, and the dominant fish becomes the male.