Scott's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus scottorum
Also known as Scott's Wrasse, Greenback Fairy Wrasse, Scott's Velvet Fairy Wrasse
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 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
- Family
- Labridae
- Origin
- Native to the southwestern Pacific around the Coral Sea, Fiji, and French Polynesia, over coral rich outer reef slopes.
Overview
Provide a 340 litre or larger reef aquarium at 23 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 with a covered top to stop jumps. It is reef safe with corals and inverts and eats zooplankton, so feed mysis, enriched brine, and pellet several times a day. It is generally peaceful but will fight other fairy wrasses that resemble it, so introduce it last or give it space.
In the wild
Scott's fairy wrasse ranges over coral and rubble slopes where males defend small territories and court passing females. It feeds on drifting zooplankton and tiny bottom animals. Males show a green to blue back and a bold flank patch that brightens during display. It appreciates plenty of rock cover along with clear swimming space.
Good to know
Cirrhilabrus scottorum is a fairy wrasse in the family Labridae, described from the Coral Sea. Color varies noticeably between regions, so Fijian and Society Island fish can look quite different. Like its relatives it is a protogynous hermaphrodite that changes from female to male.
Did you know
Males put on a rapid fin flashing display each morning and at dusk to court females and warn off rival males.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Scott's fairy wrasse is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Ring cowrie
Monetaria annulus
Saltwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Yellow watchman goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Saltwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Fire shrimp
Lysmata debelius
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Klein's butterflyfish
Chaetodon kleinii
Saltwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Tiger / strawberry conch
Conomurex luhuanus
Saltwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Striped eel catfish
Plotosus lineatus
Saltwater12.6 in (32 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Scott's fairy wrasse need?
A Scott's fairy wrasse needs at least 90 gal (340 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Scott's fairy wrasse need?
A Scott's fairy wrasse is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Scott's fairy wrasse get?
An adult Scott's fairy wrasse reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
Related species
4.7 in (12 cm)90 gal (340 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Exquisite fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
4.7 in (12 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)90 gal (340 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Lineatus fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus lineatus
4.7 in (12 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)90 gal (340 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Solar fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus solorensis
4.3 in (11 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)90 gal (340 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Flame fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus jordani
3.9 in (10 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)55 gal (208 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Lubbock's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus lubbocki
3.1 in (8 cm) · 55 gal (208 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Social fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis
2.8 in (7 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)