Labout's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus laboutei)

Description

The Labout's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus laboutei), occasionally seen under names like the Magenta Streaked or Northern Purple Wrasse, is an exceptionally vibrant and active species. Hailing from the waters around the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia, this fish is a prized addition to reef aquariums due to its tranquil disposition and stunning coloration.

Its body features a distinct division: the upper half is a brilliant combination of red and orange hues, while the lower half is white or pale, often separated by a striking yellow horizontal line. The face and nose are capped with a beautiful blue or purple, which, combined with their constantly shifting mood, ensures they are a focal point of any tank. The male and female share similar base color patterns, but the male will intensify its colors dramatically, performing a flashing display, especially during courtship, when its fins become fully extended. This species is robust, generally peaceful, and completely reef-safe.

Care and Aquarium Information

Aquarium Environment

• Tank Size: A minimum tank size of 75 gallons is highly recommended. While they are not the largest of the wrasses, they are highly active and need ample open swimming space, particularly in the water column.
• Habitat: The aquarium must be well-established and furnished with plenty of live rock to create numerous hiding spots, cracks, and caves for sleeping and retreating when stressed.
• Substrate: This species is not a sand-burier and will instead find a crevice in the rockwork to spin a mucus cocoon and sleep.
• Security: Like all Fairy Wrasses, the Labout's is an enthusiastic jumper. A tight-fitting lid or canopy is essential to prevent the fish from escaping the aquarium.

Diet and Feeding

• Feeding: This carnivorous species has a high metabolism and should be offered food multiple times per day (2-3 times minimum) to maintain optimal health and weight.
• Food Types: The diet must be varied and rich in meaty offerings. This includes vitamin-enriched frozen foods such as Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and high-quality marine flake and pellet foods formulated for carnivorous fish.
• Foraging: They are active foragers and will continuously graze for small invertebrates and copepods among the live rock.

Temperament and Compatibility

• Reef Safe: The Labout's Fairy Wrasse is considered entirely reef-safe, posing no threat to corals or sessile invertebrates.
• Social Behavior: This fish is generally peaceful and is an excellent inhabitant of a community tank.
• Group Housing: They are best kept alone as the sole Cirrhilabrus species in a smaller tank. In very large aquariums (120+ gallons), a single male can be kept with a small group of females (a harem) if introduced simultaneously or if the females are added first.
• Wrasse Aggression: Although peaceful overall, a terminal male Labout's Wrasse can be territorial or "bossy" towards smaller, more passive Fairy Wrasses (like those in the Paracheilinus genus) or other newly introduced wrasses. It is best to introduce them last among the wrasse family.
• Hermaphroditism: As a protogynous hermaphrodite, any female may transform into a male in the absence of a dominant male.