Fairy wrasse Photo Library

[bronco7777]

Okay, there have been several questions regarding fairy wrasses here lately. Without a doubt this is the ideal fish for a reef and it is gaining in popularity.

I've been keeping fairy wrasses for several years now almost exclusively. So with the huge swell in interest I thought I'd put together a photo library to help other
reef fans identify all the different varieties that are out there.

There is no specific order for listing these fish and it will be a image intense thread.

So here we go, I hope this is helpful.

[bronco7777]

Yellowfin Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis
Comes From: Philippines / Indonesia / Flores
Fairy Size Category: Small (Maximum 3.5" as adult)
Colors: Male is Hot pink with white stripes and yellow dorsal. Females is all pink

http://

[bronco7777]

Sorry, trying to get the hang of posting on threads.http://

[bronco7777]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/41565Yellowfin_fairy.JPG

[bronco7777]

Rhomboid Fairy - aka (Diamond Tail Fairy or Golden Fairy)
cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis
Comes From: Marshall Islands
Fairy Size Category: Large (4.7" as adult)
Colors: Males-Yellow Body with blue lavender face. Females a very pale version of the male.
Availability in the trade: Rare but becoming more available each year (Average price: $175 - $300)
reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/41565Rhomboid.JPG

[bronco7777]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/41565Rhomboid.JPG

[bronco7777]

Pyle's Fairy Wrasse - aka (Blue Margin Fairy)
cirrhilabrus pylei
Comes from: Papua New Guinea / Bali
Fairy Size Category: Medium (3.9" as adult)
Colors: Males are yellow with a blue trimmed tail and a red dorsal fin. Ventral fins are also some of the longest for a fairy. Females are all pink.
Availability: Rare
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/41565Pyle_s_fairy_full_fla_49552.JPG

[bronco7777]

Man, I finally got this right....picture and words on same post :-)

[FishF00d]

lol. . . Like the idea. What about some type of compatability between them.

[bronco7777]

Labout's Fairy Wrasse
cirrhilabrus laboutei
Comes From: Great Barrier Reef & New Caledonia
Fairy Size Category: Medium to Large (4.7" as adult)
Colors: Male and Female are the same - White underside with several stripes in pink, orange, yellow, purple, and blue /green trim.
Availability in the trade: Occasionalhttp://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/41565Labout_s_in_a_bg.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/41565Labout_s_swimming_up.JPG

[bronco7777]

FishFood,

All fairy wrasses are compatible with each other as long as you don't place a Supermale of a species with a Supermale from the same species.

Otherwise outside enemies include: Pseudochromis (except orchids), sixline wrasses, Some Anthias, Carpet anenome's (Notorious wrasse catchers at night).

[FishF00d]

Ok, Thanks for the info... and i always thought it was my purple tang who beat my scotts fairy wrasse to hell. I didn't know the six line was the problem.

[bronco7777]

Pink Margin Fairy Wrasse
cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus
Comes From: Southern Japan / Indonesia / Ryukyu Islands
Fairy Size Category: Large (5.5" as adult)
Colors: Males are a dark cranberry color with several colorful dots, red trim on dorsal and end of tail. Females are a very pale version of male....light pink cranberry.
Availability in the trade: Occasional
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopost/data/502/577Pink_Margin_-_Best_Shot.JPG [/IMG]

[bronco7777]

Flame Fairy Wrasse
cirrhilabrus jordani
Comes from: Hawaii
Fairy Size Category: Medium (3.9" as adult)
Colors: Males a deep red-orange with some yellow on its underside. Females are similar in colors (This fish does not fade in captivity as other fairy wrasses do)
Availability: Occasional to sometimes common

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopost/data/502/577Flame_fairy_flaring_up.jpg [/IMG] http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopost/data/502/577Flame_Fairy_-_Juvenile.JPG [/IMG]

[bronco7777]

Scott's Fairy Wrasse
cirrhilabrus scottorum
Comes From: Austrailia - Great Barrier Reef / Cook Islands
Fairy Size Category: Large (5.1" as adult)
Colors: Colors vary by area where they live. Cook Islands -Male Scott's are dark blue with a large hot pink spot in the center of their body. They also have some yellow and green trim. Females are a dark midnight blue without the pink spot. Scott's from the Holmes Reef area of Austrailia are a bright Blue-green almost turqouise body color with bright orange yellow trim and a red tail.
Availability: Cook islands - Fairy common / Holmes Reef - A little harder to find.
Pictured below is a Scott's from Holmes Reef

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopost/data/502/577Scott_s_Full_Body_Shot.JPG [/IMG]

[fussoverthis]

Bronco,
AWESOME! I love this! Thanks for sharing the beautiful shots!

Melissa

[bronco7777]

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
cirrhilabrus exquisitus
Comes From: Africa / Indian Ocean / Sumatra
Fairy Size Category: Large (4.7" as adult)
Colors: There are two types of exquisite, as their coloration varies by area. There is the Regular exquiste and the pacific
Regular exquiste: As pictured below has a bright red face and green body with some white highlights. Females-drab green
Pacific exquiste: Males lack the red face but rather have a yellow throat and red trim all around the fins. Body is still green
Availability: Common
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/41565Exquisite_closeup.jpg
reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/41565Exquisite_full_body.JPG

[bronco7777]

Melissa,

No problem. By the way I'll have the tank ready soon. I'll have you over.

[bronco7777]

Lineatus Fairy Wrasse
cirrhilabrus lineatus
Comes from: Austrailia - Great Barrier Reef / Coral Sea
Fairy Size Category: Large (4.7" as adult)
Colors: Almost undescribeable, but here goes: Deep cranberry-lavender with a hint of orange. Yellow fins with a red tail. Blue-purple dots and lines all over the body. Females a very pale version of the male....a light pink-lavender body.
Availability: Occasional
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/41565Lineatus_headfirst.JPG

[bronco7777]

Goldbar Fairy Wrasse - aka (Yellow bar or Yellow band fairy)
cirrhilabrus luteovittatus
Comes from: Micronesia
Fairy Size Category: Large (4.7" as adult)
Colors: Deep purple body with a lavender belly and the unmistakeable yellow stripe down the side. Females about the same. This fish is a VERY close relative to the Solar Fairy.
Availability: Occasional
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/41565Goldbar_closeup.JPG

[bronco7777]

Okay, its late...I'll enter some more tomorrow

Later

[FishF00d]

So are you taking some of this info out of that book you mentioned, Fairy and Rainbow Wrasses? How much more in depth does that book go? I was thinking of getting it but we see to have our own real life book in you. :)

[bronco7777]

FishFOOd,

Some info comes from the book I mentioned. For example, the locations of the world where each of these fish are collected. Some of the other info comes from special magazines I've collected through the years. The magazines have provided the sizes I list. Finally the balance of the info is from personal experience and the pictures I'm posting are all mine.

[FishF00d]

so its time for you to write your own book...

Good Job. Keep them comming. Your pictures look great. They are much more realistic to me then some around the web.

[Chris777]

Bronco7777

Do all the rest that you listed lose there color without a female/ or in captivity? My favorite i still have to say is the Labout's Fairy Wrasse i have found it at 2 places but dont have the money to buy one. :-(

[bronco7777]

Solar Fairies
Scott's Fairies
Temmnick's Fairies
Blue Scaled Fairies
Black-finned fairies
Exquisite Fairies

All these fish tend to lose their colors a bit if they don'y have a harem of females. When I say they lose colors its primarily their beautiful nuptial or courtship colors. Obviously without a mate to court the darker colored fairies (blue's/browns/greens) tend to
fade.

The in-between group - this means they may fade a bit but not alot:

Rhomboid Fairy
Pyle's Fairy
Pink-Margin Fairy
Goldbar fairy
Yellow-flanked fairy

Here are the fish that tend to keep their colors well, regardless of wether or not there is a harem:

Labout's
Flame
Social Fairy
Conde's Fairy
Lineatus Fairy
Yellowfin Fairy
Lubbock's Fairy
Rosy-fin Fairy
Orange Back fairy

(It seems to me that the fish that have the red-orange coloration or the hot pinks & yellows tend to keep their colors better than the blues & greens)

Please note that the fish listed in this post are the only fish I have had experience with or owned.......if a fish is not listed here, wether it be as a color fader or not, then I cannot confirm if they are faders or not.

[kmc]

Thanks, Bronco777. Great and informative post. The pics and posts you've given us in the past inspired me to buy a pair of lineatus wrasses this week. I've got questions about them which I've posted in this forum, but I won't put them here -- wouldn't want to get the thread off-track.

Keith

[Chris777]

So Exquisite Fairies they just wont have the bright colors they would bring up when they would be trying to atracted a female? Like the picture you have up do you mean it will dull out or i dont exactly understand what you mean i guess.

[tacocat]

HEy my laboutei doesn't have that yellow stripe sbove the eye. I wonder if mine is a female.

[Chris777]

I was wondering if you know what type of fairy wrasse this is? I could seem to get a good picture of him cause sometimes he will change his color when he/she is looking at his/herself in the side of the tank.Heres one picture

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/66865DSC00384.JPG



Heres one more:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/66865DSC00376.JPG

[Jus Reefin]

Awesome thread. I purchased my first Fairy wrasse ( carpentars) a couple weeks ago. I have never seen it since it went into the tank :(

I really love these fish and was planning on mainly having them only in my tank. Now I am skeptical cause of what happened

[bronco7777]

Chris777,

Its hard to tell from the pics. But I would take a guess and say its a female Conde's Fairy looking at the shape and colors. More pictures may help.

However, if its a juvenile fairy it may be undestinguishable until it matures more. Several juvenile fairies are identical when they are young and sometimes hard to recognize.

[FishF00d]

Jus Reefin, what are the other fish in your tank? The same thing happened to me when i got my scotts fairy. I went to a wedding the next weekend and came back and he was gone? I had a purple tang who was rough on new fish and i also had a six line which according to bronco will not react well to any of the fairys.

[Jus Reefin]

The only other fish are a purple dottyback and mandarian goby. It's a 179g tank. I was really upset cause these fish are not common at my LFS so I had to order it.

[FishF00d]

I think the Dottyback may be the problem. Bronco777 might be able to shed more light on it but i recall him telling me in a PM to stay away from the dottybacks that they will attack them.

"Otherwise outside enemies include: Pseudochromis (except orchids), sixline wrasses, Some Anthias, Carpet anenome's (Notorious wrasse catchers at night)." That is what he posted earlier in the post.

[tacocat]

A carpenter is a flasher wrasse. these are similar to fairy wrasses, but they are more passive, and have a higher proclivity to jump.

[Jus Reefin]

My bad I though the Flasher wrasse were in the "Fairy" family. There is no where for it to jump accept for into the overflow and down the drain. A peppermint took the ride but no fish.............yet

[bronco7777]

Dottybacks are known for attacking fairy and flashers wrasses. Flasher wrasses tend to be alot smaller than fairy wrasses.

If you have a purple or strawberry dottyback, those things are just plain mean to fairies. Now there is one exception.....a orchid dottyback looks just like a strawberry but has a very mild desposition. So mild in fact that you can actually keep more than one in the same tank.....which is something you would never do with say a neon dottyback or strawberry.

[Chris777]

I have more pictures i just need to edit them so they will upload onto here.

[bronco7777]

Temminck's Fairy Wrasse - aka (Peacock Fairy or Blue-Stripe Fairy)
cirrhilabrus temminckii
Come from: Japan / Malaysia / Indonesia / Western Austrailia
Fairy Size Category: Medium (3.9" as adult)
Colors: HIGHLY VARIABLE - These fish are so widespread and their colors vary quite a bit from sea to sea. Mainly available in the trade are the ones pictured below:
Brown underside, red-orange upper body. Red trim on fins and small blue dots everywhere. Males get a yellow stripe down the length of the body. When they flash their nuptial colors are bets are off....just about any color can be demonstrated.
Availability: Occasional
Here's a picture of one I had with a male Pyle's next to it.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/41565Temminick_s_with_Pyle_s.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/41565Temmnick_s_full_body.JPG http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopost/data/502/577Temmnick_s_Fairy_Backside.jpg [/IMG]

[Chris777]

Bronco7777,

Try going here you should be able to veiw it and make the picture bigger if not let me know.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soh_skulls@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=c974&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soh_skulls@sbcglobal.net/my_photos

[bronco7777]

Rosy-Fin Fairy Wrasse
cirrhilabrus (undescribed)
Comes from: Coral Sea very deep water
Fairy size category: Small (3.2" as adults)
Colors: Red and Yellow with black and magenta trim on the dorsal. Blue pink and black trim on the tail.
Availability: Rare

These are a young juvenile pair. At this age not much distinguishes one from the other.

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopost/data/502/577Rosy-Fin_Fairy_Wrasse_65FE5.JPG [/IMG]

In this picture a rhomboid comes to check out the new additions:
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopost/data/502/577Rosy-fins_greeted_by_6600C.JPG [/IMG]

[bronco7777]

Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse
cirrhilabrus lubbocki
Comes from: Philippines / Flores Seas
Fairy Size Category: Small (3.0" as adult)
Colors: Two types. The most common as pictured below is a metallic combination of purple, orange, yellow, and pink. Females are mostly pick with some yellow trim.
Another type of lubbock's that comes from the Sangihe Islands is a light lavender body color with with two black stripes. The face is purple orange.
Availability: Common


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/526/41565Lubbock_s_Aquarium.JPG

[bronco7777]

Chris,

I can't get in to that Yahoo page. Its login accessible only

[Chris777]

ok well that didnt work how i wanted it to. Do you know anywhere i can upload them to so i dont have to edit them it takes forever to do.

[Flipturn88]

This is a wonderful thread! I love fairy wrasses!!

[Jus Reefin]

He was a little smaller then the dotty. It's funny cause the dotty seems like the most shyest,passive fish I have ever owned. Do you think I would be ok if I got 2-3 wrasses at a time???

[Chris777]

Bronco7777,

You should be able to view the site now i had it set so it was private now it is public so you should be able to look now.


http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/soh_s...l.net/my_photos

[zaslax]

How many fairies and what kind of fairies can i put in a 46g bowfront? I can't afford the expensive ones. Thanks. Siders

[Chris777]

From what ive looked at most fairy wrasses are cheap in no sense. Cheapest Fairy wrasse i have seen was like $40

[tacocat]

Fairy wrasses are by far the most expensive fish as a group.

[Flipturn88]

zaslax, I had a Labouti in my 46 gal bowfront. It was a beautiful fish, until he went carpet surfing one day: COVER YOUR TANKS--EVERY LAST MILLIMETER!

[reefidiot]

Thanks for posting pics bronco! I had no idea there was so much variety in the fairy wrasse family

[zaslax]

Wow sorry Flipturn about the carpet surfing wrasse...A laboutei...that would really suck. Those are such beautiful fish. My tank is 100% covered a fish can't even get in the overflow the eggcrate is flush with the glass top. I meant that I can't afford 50+ bucks each. I was thinking a Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis pair and a Cirrhilabrus punctatus. Would these be fine in a 46g? I have a 15g sump/fuge on the bottom.

[karid]

I just saw Flipturn's post about his carpet surfing wrasse. Another hazard is powerhead placement. My fairy wrasse is great, but a real pig at feeding time. He wedged himself behind the powerhead in the corner of the tank (kind of between the glass and the powerhead, in the space the suction cups are in) with his head out of water while trying to get a piece of food. Luckily I heard him splashing, went downstairs to investigate, and quickly got him "unstuck". Minus a few missing scales, everything was fine - just thought I'd warn people. It's possible he could have gotten himself out of it, but who knows...

:-)

[fussoverthis]

Kayla,
I'm sorry to hear about your wrasse! Wow, I know how much you liked him.

Melissa

[tstone]

Great thread. My favorite fish.

I am setting up a 70 cube and will get a male and a couple females of ...... well I am not sure yet. Lineatus maybe or Pyle?

Maybe Rhomboid I can't make up my mind. I am pretty sure it is one of these three though.

[Flipturn88]

Thanks everyone for your condolences. I hope to get another fairy wrasse someday (when my tank is well-covered!).

zaslax, your plan sounds pretty good! Please keep us posted :)

[Chris777]

Bronco7777 heres a few more pictures i hope these help.


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66865DSC00382.JPG

and another

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66865DSC00378.JPG

[tacocat]

Chris, I think that it's a female juvenile. How long is it. Other than that, it could be a mollie :)

[Chris777]

i would say its around 4 inches long

[Jow13]

this thread rocks! bronco your the man

[a.fool.for.fish.]

ya thanks bronco great thread

[fussoverthis]

Bronco, Could you repost the photo of the Rosy-fin? It seems that it didn't work. I'd love to see the pair together :)

Melissa

[nbd13]

hey anyone have a pic of a social fairy wrasse i could not find one!

thanks!

Nick

[Chris777]

i found this on the web


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/668652375Social_Fairy.jpg

[nbd13]

wow thanks i am glad i am getting that one too! cant wait till all 5 of my fairy wrasses are in the tank!

Nick

[nbd13]

any more of the socail fairy wrasse?

thanks!

Nick

[Chris777]

Do a search on goggle thats how i found that one from a site.

[Gerard Alba]

Bronco you have a fine colection there.
Ever had a talossoma sp.?

[bronco7777]

Gerard ,

No I have not, I'll have to look into that.

Sorry I haven't been responding to the thread. I've just been buried in work.
Melissa I'll try posting that pic again a little later if I get a chance

[bronco7777]

Okay, I'm back here to post a few more pics.

Take a quick break from the fairy wrasses to post a couple of pics of other related wrasses I keep that are reef safe

Here's one:

Eight-Line Flasher Wrasse
Paracheilinus Octoenia
Comes from: The Red Sea
Size: About 3.5" as adult
Color Pattern: Males Bright Orange with blue dotted lines running the length of the body. Red fins and tail that are only appreciated when the male flashes a female or a intruder. Female similar to male without the same intense colors. This fish has a oval shape when all teh finnage is flashed.
This is the same fish on the cover of the fairy wrasse book by Rudie Kuiter

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopost/data/502/577Eightline_flasher_sid_695AF.JPG[/IMG]

[bronco7777]

This is not a fairy it comes from the same family as a sixline wrasse:

Mystery Wrasse - aka - Five Bar wrasse
Pseudocheilinus Ocellatus
Comes From: Marshall Islands
Size: About 3.5" full grown
Color: Bright Lavender Purple body with the trademark 5 white bar stripes. Yellow face with assorted red and purple stripes scribbled around eyes. Back tail has a black spot surrounded in blue-green hues. Fins have shades of blue and green.
This fish looks like a mini-barracuda that's been painted by Andy Warhol.
This fish can be pugnacious and tempermental towards wrasses smaller than itself. Its best to keep him with larger fairy wrasses only.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/41565mystery_closeup_1.JPG

http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=5745&password=&sort=7&thecat=500

[bronco7777]

One more pic showing the rest of the body markingshttp://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/41565mystery_wrasse.jpg

[bronco7777]

Okay,

Lets go back to fairy wrasses. There are many wrasses that I don't have pictures for that I have seen or owned before.

If this is going to be a true Fairy Wrasse photo library I'd like to include pictures of fish that I don't have pics for.

Therefore, from this point on the pictures I will add ARE NOT MY OWN....I'm just placing them here for the purpose at hand.

[bronco7777]

Earle's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus Earlei
Comes From: Palau
Fairy Size Type: Small to Medium (4" as Adult)
Colors: light lavender body with bright magenta stripes. Yellow face with a purple jaw. Red-orange coloring along the dorsal fins. Fins have hints of blue.
Availability in Trade: Ultra Rare - This fish was only discovered in 2001 and it a deep water fish

http://www1.neweb.ne.jp/wb/smd/today/earle's%20fairly%20wrasse.htm

[bronco7777]

Okay that didn't work...lets try thishttp://www1.neweb.ne.jp/wb/smd/photo/fish/bera/13a.jpg

[bronco7777]

Blood-Stain Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus Sanguineus
Comes From: Mauritius
Fairy Wrasse Size: Medium Size (4.5")
Colors: Peach-yellow face with pale blue grey body. Males have the distinctive red bar in the middle of the body. I've never seen a female but I hear they lack the red bar.http://www.fishbase.org/thumbnails/jpg/tn_Cisan_m0.jpg

[Julio]

Hey Bronco,
where did you get that beauty? how much?

[Vili_Shark]

Bronco, cool wrasses!
Ya guys mentioned jumping wrasses before in this thread.
I lost my 8 lines flasher last week, found him dry on the floor.
But the other day was already too much, I woke up in the morning, looked at the tank fed the fish abit, suddenly I see my Pink Margin shooting itself out of the water.
I saw jumping fish before, but this was more like a Tomahoc missle!
Went out of the water, at least 10" in the air then started falling, hit the closet next to the tank and bounced back to the tank top, out of the water, all this in front of my eyes.
I placed it back in the tank....40 minutes later it was eating again.

[tstone]

Bronco
Any idea where I could get a pair of the Earls?

[bronco7777]

Those Earl's are extremely hard to find.

I saw a juvenile 2 years ago and haven't seen one since.

I doubt you'll find them and if you do, prepare to pay alot.

[tstone]

Yeah any fish that is that hard to find is expensive. If you happen across one let me know.

Thanks

[bronco7777]

Kato's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus Katoi
Comes From: Japan - Izu Peninsula / South Kashiwajima
Fairy Wrasse Size: Medium to Large (4.5")
Colors: Bright Pink-red upper half of body. Lower half white. Red ventral fin. Blue and green Dorsal fin.
Availability: Rare
http://www.izuzuki.com/Zukan/Fish/bera/Photo/kurenaiIBRnup.jpg

[bronco7777]

Long-tail Fairy wrasse aka - Splendid Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus lanceolatus
Comes from: Japan, Izu Region / Ryuku Islands and Palau
Fairy wrasse Size: Large (4.9")
Colors: Large variations...there are two types of lanceolatus.
One has a light purple blue body with green and blue finnage. The second is yellow orange with a royal blue dorsal. Both types have a pointed tail...thus the reason they call it a lanceolatus.
Availability: Hard to find
http://villa-tropara.com/021603.jpg

[bronco7777]

Black-fin Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus melanomarginatus
Comes from: South China Sea / Phillipines
Fairy Wrasse Size: Very Large - Beyond 5" (5.3")
Colors: Dark Green with a black dorsal. When flashing nuptial colors the fish changes to a white underside and a brighter green.
Availability: Hard to find
http://sea.mori-umi.net/archives/tomoshibi.html

[bronco7777]

Sorry here's the Blackfin:
http://sea.mori-umi.net/archives/tomoshibi-thumb.jpg http://sea.mori-umi.net/archives/tomoshibi2-thumb.jpg

[bronco7777]

Red-Sea Fairy Wrasse aka- Purple Bonded Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus blatteus
Comes from:Red Sea
Fairy Wrasse Size: Medium to Large (4.1")
Colors: Male has Red face and a pale white-yellowish torso. Has a purple-red stripe. Tail is pointed like a lanceolatus but has yellow and green in. Females are mostly pale white with a yellow green tail. In this picture a female is turning into a male
Availability: Hard to find
http://www.fishbase.org/images/Cibla_m0.jpg

[Pepbill]

I have to say I'm a huge fan of fairy wrasses. I've had over 15 over the past 6-8 years. The most fabulous of them all is the 8-line. The only picture that comes close to doing them justice is the pic on the cover of the Fairy Wrasse book. The get somewhat drab when frightened or uncomfortable but when they settle in they get the most brilliant red with bright blue stripes.

[bronco7777]

Conde's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus condei
Comes from: Eastern New Guinea to Northern Great Barrier Reef
Fairy Wrasse Size: 3.5" as adult
Colors: Mainly red body with a white belly underside Black trim with neon dots in tail and dorsal fins. Often confused with a Social Fairy.
Availability: Occasional
Male:
http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/images/Cicon_u1.jpg

[Brewboy74]

bronco can I email you a pic of my fine spotted? let me know

[bronco7777]

Brewboy,

I'd love it send it over

[ktani]

Bronco,

great job on this thread. As always I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge with us.

I have never seen the Katos'. A truly amazing specimen. Do you have one?

You have not put up a picture of a McCoskers yet though. :-)

Kip

[bronco7777]

Kip,

No I can't say I've ever had a Kato's. I saw one at a public aquarium once but I've never seen one in the trade.

And yes.....the McCosker's is still just a dream. Nobody can seem to get their hands on one. I'm not sure I could afford it if they did.

But hey, I don't ask for much. All I ask is that the Broncos get past the first round of the playoffs for old times sake.

Stay tuned for all of the above.

:confused:

[FishF00d]

that will be tough this year...

[tstone]

Bumping this up.

bronco7777 any more pics?

[bronco7777]

tstone,

Sorry I've neglected this thread. I've been drowned in work here lately and I'm also trying to finish a very large pond project in my backyard.

I'll try getting some in here soon.

[tstone]

bronco I am surprised you have anything else to do except keep us entertained. :D

You mention the McCoskers. I just picked up 2 females and a male yesterday from the LFS

Here is a thread with a great pic.
thread (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=517495&highlight=McCoskers+wrasse)

[bronco7777]

Wow....he's beautiful!

Hey Tstone can you PM with the name of the LFS where you got those?

Do they still have some available?

[tstone]

He is beautiful.

Just to be clear that one is not mine, it is just a great pic.

Mine looks just like it and flashes constantly at the girls. Really cool to watch.

PM is coming at you.

[majesticangel]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42526fish.jpg

Juv. Cirrhilabrus joanallenae

[Chris777]

Bronco,

Do you have any pictures of a yellow flange fairy wrasse and a red margin fairy wrasse? Also do you have pictures of a male and female solor fairy wrasse they dont have to be together in the same picture just so i can see what a male looks like to a female.

[bronco7777]

Chris,

If you look through the begining of this thread you'll see a pic of a male red-margin. I also invite you to see my photo gallery

[Chris777]

Is that a male solor in your gallery also i only saw a pink margin fairy wrasse no a red margin fairy wrasse.

[Absint Reefer]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66987nice_pics_v-2_006-med.jpg
know what this one is

[tstone]

Carson Lee
Looks like a Solar fairy Wrasse-Cirrhilabrus solorensis

[Absint Reefer]

thanks tstone

[poknsnok]

I love these fish. except I just lost my $70.00 scotts to jumping. I have halides and use eggcrate. went right thru the egg crate. glass tops will either crack due to the heat or keep the tank so hot my chiller probably wont be able to handle it. they are gorgeous fish but thier jumping is a major issue

[poknsnok]

Originally posted by bronco7777
Chris,

If you look through the begining of this thread you'll see a pic of a male red-margin. I also invite you to see my photo gallery

Chris

I love these fish. what do you have covering your tank to keep them from jumping? I lost a gorgeous scotts to the carpet

[Chris777]

My canopy then. This mesh im not extactly sure what is called but it covers the holes that are in the back.

[bronco7777]

Chris 777,

I think your confusing the Pink Margin Fairy with a Red Margin......actually that I know of there is no such thing as a Red Margin.

The Pink Margin is a Cirrhilabrus Rubrimarginatus and it's common name is a Pink Margin fairy. I would imagine that some dealers will call it a Red-Margin because the fish has a red trim strip on the tip of it's tail. But the true name is Pink - Margin and that's the fish that is pictured in my gallery and should also be listed at the begining of this thread.

The solar fairy male has a turqouise-blue body with a red and yellow head. A dead give away of the male besides the turqouise body is the black trim shading around the gill cover. However, this species of fairy is a VERY VERY close cousin to the aurantidorsalis (Orange-Back fairy) and the leutovittatus (Goldbar or Yellow-band fairy). It's thought that there may even be some inter-breeding going on and that is why Solar fairy males are highly variable in color.....even for the males. For example, males from the Flores and Banda seas take on a dark red-orange-purple body instead of the turqouise blue that is most commonly seen in the trade.

In any case the females tend to look the following way: The head is a dark cranberry-purple-magenta and that color fades into a yellow back half of the body. Alot of times some LFS will label females as Ruby head fairy or Purple Parrot Fairy wrasses.......when in all likelyhood it's a female solar.

Chris I'd like to suggest that you purchase Rudie Kuiter's book on Rainbow and Fairy wrasses and you'll get all the pictures you want that will break each fairy down by male and female and juvenile.
The pictures in that book will portray the fish better than I can describe it here.

[bronco7777]

Chris 777,

I think your confusing the Pink Margin Fairy with a Red Margin......actually that I know of there is no such thing as a Red Margin.

The Pink Margin is a Cirrhilabrus Rubrimarginatus and it's common name is a Pink Margin fairy. I would imagine that some dealers will call it a Red-Margin because the fish has a red trim strip on the tip of it's tail. But the true name is Pink - Margin and that's the fish that is pictured in my gallery and should also be listed at the begining of this thread.

The solar fairy male has a turqouise-blue body with a red and yellow head. A dead give away of the male besides the turqouise body is the black trim shading around the gill cover. However, this species of fairy is a VERY VERY close cousin to the aurantidorsalis (Orange-Back fairy) and the leutovittatus (Goldbar or Yellow-band fairy). It's thought that there may even be some inter-breeding going on and that is why Solar fairy males are highly variable in color.....even for the males. For example, males from the Flores and Banda seas take on a dark red-orange-purple body instead of the turqouise blue that is most commonly seen in the trade.

In any case the females tend to look the following way: The head is a dark cranberry-purple-magenta and that color fades into a yellow back half of the body. Alot of times some LFS will label females as Ruby head fairy or Purple Parrot Fairy wrasses.......when in all likelyhood it's a female solar.

Chris I'd like to suggest that you purchase Rudie Kuiter's book on Rainbow and Fairy wrasses and you'll get all the pictures you want that will break each fairy down by male and female and juvenile.
The pictures in that book will portray the fish better than I can describe it here.

[Rothie]

bronco7777
I really want to thank you for all the information and assistance you provide.I have searched on line and have been unable to locate this particular book.Do you have a source?

[Chris777]

Thanks a lot bronco for the info. I plan on getting the book just havent had a chance to get it as only one place has it that is some what close to me so i havent had a chance to get out there. Now i see what my problem is with my 2 solors not liking each other. As far as the pink margin fairy mine looks far different i dont know if mine is a juv or maybe a female but i will have to get that book sometime soon here and thanks again for the info.

[bronco7777]

Rothie,

It's been a while since I was in the market searching for that book so I'm not quite sure where to find it these days. I'll take a look around.

I'm sure that Amazon.com and other simialr sites can also find you some pricing. Go to google and search under Rudie Kuiter Fairy Wrasses.

I'm sure you'll find some links.

If I come across something I'll post it on this thread

[tstone]

Here ya go guys.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12114&inm=1&N=2004+2024+2035

[Chris777]

Only one of my lfs's carry the book which is is about a hour a way and i havent had a chance to get out there to get it.

[Rothie]

tstone
Thanks for the link.I see it is new.That is probably why I couldn't find it on Google search last month.None of the on-line book dealers had it.

[Rothie]

I just did another search and came up with a lot of sources.I probably couldn't spell last month!

[tstone]

Rothie I am learnign to splel also. http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/r/goofy.gif

[cheeks69]

I think your confusing the Pink Margin Fairy with a Red Margin......actually that I know of there is no such thing as a Red Margin.

That's how my LFS sold them here's a pic of mine before he was killed by my Hippo:mad2:

BTW great thread Bronco I've always admired your collection thanx for sharing

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/cheeks69/127_2746.jpg

[MERCEDES]

cheeks69 sorry to hear about your wrasse my Red Sea Sailfin killed my Lineatus Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lineatus). I only had him for 1 day but it was the most beautiful fish I have ever had.
Bronco thank you for all of this wonderful information I will get another fairy wrasse but not until the Sailfin has been booted from my tank to our larger tank and maybe the other tangs can pick on him the big bully:mad2: i am still a little ****ed at my once favorite fish. I never thought a tang would have a problem with a fairy wrasse totally different bodies and colors. We had planned on adding some leopard wrasses to our 220g tank but we have a sixline in it and I have been searching for info and keep getting conflicting reports. I have been told it should be fine if we add them at the same time or majorly rearrange the rockwork but from what you posted we should just forget any fairy or flasher wrasse with a sixline which I would believe you more considering your extensive list of wrasses you have and direct experiences. So again thank you for sharing your knowledge it really is very helpful. My next tank will be at least a 180g and I plan to have peaceful fish that I can have multiples of each in it living together so the fairy wrasses would be perfect I was wondering about purple firefish or zebra dart gobies would they be compatible? I have read some say flasher wrasses would harass the gobies any thoughts on this?
Thank you!

[bronco7777]

Cheeks,

Sorry to hear about your Pink Margin. He was a great looking fish.
Thanks for the encouragement on the thread. I just like promoting these fish.

Mercedes,

In my experience Sixlines are just so pugnacious that I would not try sending a fairy or flasher in with one of those guys. I know that some hobbyists have reported being able to keep some sixlines with fairies but that IMO is not the norm but the exception............kinda like those people that buy a dwarf angel for a reef tank and it works out, the fish doesn't pick on the corals. However, those experiences are few and far apart.

As far as the gobies and the firefish go, you should have no problem with a flasher or a fairy. The fairy wrasse will not pick fights with either of these fish. The one thing to keep in mind is that firefish are pretty nervous fish...and maybe the constant swimming back and forth from multiple fairies just might make him a little more likely to jump.
Other than that, I think you should be fine.

[MERCEDES]

Thanks for the fast reply I know you are busy what you say about the sixline is what i figured. The one we have now is fairly mellow and leaves the firefish and dart gobies alone but they had been in the tank 2 years when the sixline was added so that may have made a difference. Does your eightline wrasses cause any problems? Do they eat flatworms also like the sixline does? Sorry for all the questions it is just nice to talk to someone who has these fish.:D

[bronco7777]

Do you mean the eightline from the sixline family or the eightline from the flasher family?

If your asking about the eighline flasher I have him in a separate tank with a helfrich firefish and a orchid dottyback. He does not cause any troubles and I have not seen him eat flatworms. Pretty much he'll try and hunt pods but he's pretty used to my feeding schedule. No problems at all with that guy.

[MERCEDES]

Either one but I see you have the flasher so the sixline family one would be a no I am assuming but you answered my question pretty much by telling me your eightline flasher is in his own tank with the Helfrich firefish. You have just about every fish I want for my next tank:lol: Just think if you could get the Helfrich's to breed:eek: I have longed for the Helfrich firefish for many years just been to scared to plunk down the cash to only have them die on me. So I finally bought the lineatus wrasse and my freakin red sea sailfin kills it in less than a day:mad2: So before I get another wrasse I plan to set up my new tank with carefully planned residents. I have 4 blue assessors coming that should get along with fairy wrasses from what I have read. Have you had any experience with assessors blue or yellow?

[cheeks69]

Thanx for the kind words Sheryl and Bronco the Hippo not only killed the wrasse but several other tankmates I just wanted to kill him when I caught him:furious:



I just like promoting these fish.

I was never really interested in Wrasses until I saw your impressive collection just beautiful fish. I hope that I can find a Pink Margin wrasse soon I got a great deal on him.

One thing I would like also to mention is that it can be difficult to get them to eat mine took about a week luckily it was very healthy and as I did some research on them I found out this is common among the Fairies.

Another important consideration would be the food you should feed the fairy wrasses. Generally, fairy wrasses will eventually learn to accept most any food offered. Even though they are zooplanktivores, I have seen them accept dried Nori, presumably learning this from the surgeonfish in the tank. In the beginning, however, they can be picky eaters.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/hcs3/

Now I have a Cirrhilabrus solorensis and he's an absolute pig
:D
http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/photos/data/582/73297329132_3238.jpg

[MERCEDES]

Originally posted by cheeks69
Thanx for the kind words Sheryl and Bronco the Hippo not only killed the wrasse but several other tankmates I just wanted to kill him when I caught him:furious:





I was never really interested in Wrasses until I saw your impressive collection just beautiful fish. I hope that I can find a Ping Margin wrasse soon I got a great deal on him.

One thing I would like also to mention is that it can be difficult to get them to eat mine took about a week luckily it was very healthy and as I did some research on them I found out this is common among the Fairies.



http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/hcs3/

Now I have a Cirrhilabrus solorensis and he's an absolute pig
:D
http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/photos/data/582/73297329132_3238.jpg
Beautiful fish!
I was so excited about my wrasse eating immediately which was what I thought would be my only worry I never thought a sailfin tang would kill a wrasse.:sad1: and he was my valentines present so I have managed not to kill the tang and I hope you can refrain also if you can't keep the tang find him a good home:fish2:

[cheeks69]

This was a couple of months ago and when I did catch it took alot of self control not to hurt him especially when I broke an Acro into 5 pieces but when I saw the fin damage from my effort to catch him I felt bad, he's been adopted since and is doing very well.;)

[MERCEDES]

:beer:

[bronco7777]

I've not owned a blue assensor....just a black cap gramma. That's as close as I got, and the fairies had no problems with the gramma.

I saw a article in Aquarium Fish magazine and I considered the blue.....but I never got around to it.

[MERCEDES]

They seem to be a really cool schooling fish that swims upside down under caves and overhangs:D

[LPSgirl]

Here is a picture of my rosy-scales (an adult male). The colors are just a little washed out, but you get the idea.

C. rubrisquamis
Comes from: The Maldives and Chagos Archipelago

http://www.michellehamilton.us/images/Reef/IMG_6665.jpg

[Chris777]

Bronco I was just wondering if your labout's fairy wrasse is from the Great Barrier Reef or New Caledonia? I am getting one it is saying it is from the coral sea which i belive is new caledonia. If yours is from the great barrier reef do you have a picture of a New Caledonia one or no of a site with a picture of one?

[bronco7777]

The current one I have is from New Caledonia. As far as I know there are no differences between the two. You will not be able to see any kind of a difference so all current pictures are acurate.

[Chris777]

Ok thanks cause i ordered one and was wondering cause i know sometimes fish from different places have different color/s

[zaslax]

Has anyone seen the pink streaked wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia)? Would they get along with flashers or fairies?
Thx

[Vili_Shark]

Bronco,
What up?
What's the best price you saw a super male Rhomboidalis?
I think it's the last wrasse I want to put in my tank.

[bronco7777]

Vili_Shark

It's been a long time since I saw a rhomboid available. I know for a fact that MarineAquatics.com gets them more often than the other online dealers. I could be wrong but I believe it was $200 or something slightly under that. That's awesome compared to some other well known online dealers that will remain nameless for now......asking more than $400 for each specimen.

Contact Tom at Marine Aquatics or Justrarefish.com and ask him if there is a chance he can order those back in.

[bronco7777]

Vili_Shark

It's been a long time since I saw a rhomboid available. I know for a fact that MarineAquatics.com gets them more often than the other online dealers. I could be wrong but I believe it was $200 or something slightly under that. That's awesome compared to some other well known online dealers that will remain nameless for now......asking more than $400 for each specimen.

Contact Tom at Marine Aquatics or Justrarefish.com and ask him if there is a chance he can order those back in.

[cheeks69]

Hopefully monday I'll have an Exquisite Wrasse, ordered one from my LFS and if the wholesaler has it he's mine:D

[Chris777]

i will have a Labout's on Tuesday. :D

[nickiwit]

Mercedes,

I have had a yellow assessor for several years. In my experience it is one of the most peaceful fish The blue one is supposed to be more docile then the yellow. They like to swim side ways or upside down. When I had it in my 12 gallon it would always swim upside down. They are great hardy fish.

[just dave]

Originally posted by Vili_Shark
Bronco,
What up?
What's the best price you saw a super male Rhomboidalis?
I think it's the last wrasse I want to put in my tank.

If you can find someplace that has a scource for Marshall fish (getting fish from The Marshalls or as close to the scource as possible) you'll have your best chance of getting one. A friend of mine has a station in the Marshalls and he sells a lot of stuff to a place and from there some of it ends up on Liveaquaria. I get 'em from him from time to time,though the price keeps 'em from being a fast mover but I like 'em and all the Fairys and Flashers ( got 16 differnt species of fairys in the shop at the moment, though the money would better spent stocking faster movers).
Here is a picture of the last one in a sell tank.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/59396rhomboid_rc.jpg

Best I could do with my skill (or lack off).

[bronco7777]

Looks like a young male by the looks of your picture. He's got his nice diamond shapped tail formed.

DOes he have any other rar fairy available....like the rhomboid?

[just dave]

Originally posted by bronco7777
Looks like a young male by the looks of your picture. He's got his nice diamond shapped tail formed.

DOes he have any other rar fairy available....like the rhomboid?

I tried to respond to your PM but your Inbox is full.

[bronco7777]

try it again, it should be cleared up now.

[just dave]

Full again

[bronco7777]

Darn.....I'll get that corrected.

[tstone]

bronco7777
Check your message tracking folder and your sent folder.

[Dejan]

this is a really excellent thread. i keep alot of wrasses although the identification of Cirrhilabrus is fairly daunting normally. however after acquiring my first fairy last week, i had it identified withing two hours of purchase thanks to this thread. he is a super-male Cirrhilabrus lubbocki, and he eats like a pig. hides out alot of the time and when he comes out my carpenters wrasse and damsel give him a hard time, but he seems to be maintaining his body condition nonetheless. really unusual looking fish, with crazy splodgy colour patterns- now searching for females. the price of fish in the US sounds rather high?! here in Sydney i picked up the Lubbocks for $25 AUD... ;)

[MERCEDES]

Originally posted by nickiwit
Mercedes,

I have had a yellow assessor for several years. In my experience it is one of the most peaceful fish The blue one is supposed to be more docile then the yellow. They like to swim side ways or upside down. When I had it in my 12 gallon it would always swim upside down. They are great hardy fish.
Thanks for the info, I have also read that the blue is more mellow it is just nice to hear from someone who has them. I mention yellow or blue assessor and people look at me like I am speaking a foreign language.:rolleyes: Hopefully soon I will have the assessors, I still have not gotten the rotten Sailfin out so no wrasses for me:(

[Norberg]

I see that some of you have problem with tangs that kills your wrasses! I have a Ctenochaetus truncatus that has killed a Paracheilinus carpenteri and a Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis!
Is it common that tangs are a problem when you have this type of wrasses?
Should i avoid to keep tangs if i want to have flasher and fairy wrases in my tank?

[nickiwit]

I have had no problems when the wrasses were added first. But once the tank is established it is riskier.

[The Shrimp X]

what about Longfin fairy wrasses?

[The Shrimp X]

oh forgot it is


cirrhilabrus rubriventralis

[cheeks69]

Well it didn't work out with the Exquisite Wrasse but I got something better :D

A Cirrhilabrus scottorum the colors on this guy are incredible the pictures don't do it justice.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/cheeks69/133_3329.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/cheeks69/133_3351.jpg

[bronco7777]

Very nice Cheeks. Sorry about the Exquisite.

[cheeks69]

Thanx Bronco :)
The Exquisite didn't work out because I didn't want to wait 3 weeks for it so when I saw the Scott's I just had to have it:D

[maxxII]

Robert,
That's a pretty fish! You're just gonna hafta post more pics up, so we can see how it really looks!

Nick

[Thurge]

Very nice. I always wanted to get a Scotts, but by the time my LRS finally got some in, I already had a Solerinsis, and I don't want to get rid of the Solerinsis.

Now to find a healthy Exquiset. :)

[tstone]

Originally posted by Thurge
Now to find a healthy Exquiset. :)

I think the www.marinecenter.com has them right now.

[TamiW]

Bronco, any info/photos of Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura? I thought that is what I had, but many the photos on the web seem to point to totally different animals. I'd post a picture, but he's way too fast for that. :)

[tacocat]

Turn off your pumps. It usually suprises them or slows them down a little.

[cheeks69]

Thanx Nick and Thurge !
Took a few more pics and this is the best I could do:p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/cheeks69/133_3370.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/cheeks69/133_3363.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/cheeks69/133_3362.jpg

[The Shrimp X]

beautiful!!!!





Does anyone have any info on the Longfin Fairy Wrasse cirrhilabrus rubriventralis?

thanks

[MERCEDES]

absolutely beautiful! congratulations:inlove:

[poknsnok]

had a scotts just like that beauty. til it actually contorted launched thru my eggcrate cover and became fish jerky behind my stand

[geshields]

I have a sixline wrasse right now now and I would like to transfer him to my 450 Gallon system tomorrow which already has a lineatus wrasse and I plan on adding 2 leopard wrasses and 2 possum wrasses in the very near future. I have read varying posts on whether the sixline can be kept with other wrasses...?? Will it be OK?

Greg

[cheeks69]

Thanks David sheryl and poknsnok:)


I have read varying posts on whether the sixline can be kept with other wrasses...??

In smaller tanks it can be a problem especially if they're added first but in a 450 gal I don't see a problem that's alot of real estate :eek2:

I have a Sunrise Dotty and when I added the Scotts he went right into the Dotty's cave there was an initial battle but the Dotty was no match to the Larger Wrasse:D

[MERCEDES]

In smaller tanks it can be a problem especially if they're added first but in a 450 gal I don't see a problem that's alot of real estate
It seems even bigger in person!
How is the beauty doing Greg? I can't wait to see her in person:bounce2:

[cheeks69]

geshields do you have a thread on the tank or a website ? I want to see the development of that beast:D

[geshields]

Originally posted by cheeks69
geshields do you have a thread on the tank or a website ? I want to see the development of that beast:D

Hope you have a lot of time..I am transferring all the corals tonight to the 450G

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36063&page=1

Greg

[cheeks69]

Wow Greg amazing stuff !!!
You do great work that would look awesome with a bunch of Fairy Wrasses :D

[InsaneClownFish]

Cheeks, beautiful. I believe you have the slightly bluer Australian variant?

I love your aquascaping!

Is that a Brazilian Flamback in the background? I just bought one....my first fish..:)

[cheeks69]

Cheeks, beautiful. I believe you have the slightly bluer Australian variant?

Thanx and yes I believe so.

Is that a Brazilian Flamback in the background? I just bought one....my first fish..

Actually it's a sunrise dottyback but I do have a Centropyge Potter's in there somewhere:)

[karsco]

Great thread guys! Here is my addition I just picked up this juvenile lineatus yesterday:

http://members.cox.net/skardell/0%20-%20lineatus.jpg

http://members.cox.net/skardell/0%20-%20lineatus1.jpg

[karsco]

Here is another pic of my Flame. So far the lineatus and flame are getting along well.

http://members.cox.net/skardell/0%20-%20flame%20wrasse.jpg

[tstone]

karsco
Very nice lineatus

[Norberg]

Has anyone a picture of Paracheilinus cyaneus?

[tstone]

This is from http://fins.actwin.com/index.php

http://fins.actwin.com/pics/Paracheilinus_cyaneus.jpg

[Norberg]

Thanks Tstone! Nice picture! It is more red then i thougt it would be!

[tstone]

It is a beautiful fish. I love the dorsal with the ray like fins

[Norberg]

Is there any difference between male and female? They seem to be rather smal so the are maybe good for harems!

[FishF00d]

Here is my Rose-Fin wrasse... How is the coloration on this guy. Your JV's have a lot more yellow to them.

http://mbrk.com/files/16_950.jpg

[unicornis]

Some of my fairies.. currently I have a flavidosarlis, rubrisquamis, cyanopluera, lubbocki, solarensis and a exquisitus

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111546527.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111547224.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111547714.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111549272.jpg

[unicornis]

more pics... feel free to comment

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111549492.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111549639.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111549716.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111550558.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111551194.jpg

[MERCEDES]

beautiful fairy wrasses and beautiful zoanthids too!:D

[LPSgirl]

Wow, you have all those wrasses in a 65 gallon tank??

When I added just a single laboutei to my tank my rubrisquamis beat him up to near death. The laboutei cowered on the ground gasping for breath from all the chasing and biting he was enduring. I had to decide which fish went back to the LFS.

[poknsnok]

thats what I was going to ask. I have a cyanopluera. I HAD a beautiful scotts australian the cyano harassed. The scotts eventually launched itself through my eggcrate cover and became a fish stick. have you had any jumping issues?

[LPSgirl]

My tank is 100% covered, so no, no jumping issues. I only let the fighting go on for 48 hours, then my rubrisquamis went back to the LFS for a $60 credit (not the $90 I paid, but oh well, lesson learned).

[unicornis]

Originally posted by MERCEDES
beautiful fairy wrasses and beautiful zoanthids too!:D

thanks...... more zoos pic can go zoos forum to see them....

[unicornis]

Originally posted by Pegasus4me
Wow, you have all those wrasses in a 65 gallon tank??

When I added just a single laboutei to my tank my rubrisquamis beat him up to near death. The laboutei cowered on the ground gasping for breath from all the chasing and biting he was enduring. I had to decide which fish went back to the LFS.

Yup...... none of them show agression to each other.. well maybe the boss, exquisite, tends to be abit bossy sometimes.... next in my list is flame and lineatus

[unicornis]

Originally posted by poknsnok
thats what I was going to ask. I have a cyanopluera. I HAD a beautiful scotts australian the cyano harassed. The scotts eventually launched itself through my eggcrate cover and became a fish stick. have you had any jumping issues?

hmm never loss a fairy be4 but lost a flasher not long ago.. I ugess flasher can'tdo well with all the more aggressive fairies

[unicornis]

My solarensis appear..... more pics

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111639331.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111639434.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111639530.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111639650.jpg

[unicornis]

Some other shot....

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111639889.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111640001.jpg

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/uploads/post-34-1111640088.jpg

[LPSgirl]

Wow, I just watched my Laboutei nip a little scarlet hermit crab off the rockwork, follow him down to sand, and when the poor guy tried to upright himself my wrasse swooped in for the kill. He got a hold of his legs and ripped him right out of his shell. I didn't know they hunted them that well, I guess I better start thinking about a different clean up crew.

[bronco7777]

Was it a small hermit?

They might take a chance with a bite sized hermit but usually any hermit that is larger than their face they usually leave alone.

[LPSgirl]

Yes, the little type of hermits you get for a clean up crew. It took him two bites to eat him. After getting him out of his shell, he spit him out on the sand, grabbed his "meaty" body section and bit that off, then went back for the legs; swallowed those too. All mouth sized pieces.

[Chemguy85]

hey everyone i have been following this thread for quite awhile. I was going to get a Paracheilinus filamentosus wrasse for my tank but they weren't on the list this week so i got a Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis instead. The only problem is that it doesn't look anything like the pictures that i have seen on the internet. It doesn't have the long dorsal fin nor does it have the ventral fins. I would post a pic of it but i am at school right now so it will have to wait i little bit till i get back to my house. Don't get me wrong it is a beautiful fish but i don't think that it is Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis. Thanks Ben
P.S. Great looking fish everyone. I think that i have been bitten by the fairy and flasher bug. New tank???????:rollface:

[unicornis]

Just got a alpha male red margin.. My god, he is a beauty....

Oh ya also got a pair of mascoski.. man when they flash, nothings best the beauty of it

[nbd13]

Hey guys what do you think of a harlequin tusk in a SPS reef with 5 fairy wrasses?

i am thinking of getting 1 for my 180 SPS reef, i mean all SPS reef.

heres the list of tank mates,

2 ocellaris clowns
1 lineatus fairy wrasse
1 lubbocks fairy wrasse
1 flame fairy wrasse
1 labouti fairy wrasse
1 Rhomboid fairy wrasse
1 tang (either a purple, PBT, powder brown tang, or anchilles, still haev to decide and find a healthy tang)

then my Harlequin Tusk, but why are they not consider reef safe? i mean will it get along with me other fish? i hear they eat snails or what about cleaner shrimp?

do you think i could add one to my list?

The MAIN thing is will the Harlequin Tusk get along with all the fairies?

thanks!

Nick

[ldrhawke]

OK Bronco you got me going with all those great photos.........I just had to get one. Went down to my LFS and bought one. I just bought it tonight and put it into my tank.

What is it? How big does it get? Is it reef safe?

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/30266Wrasse-2.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/30266Wrasse-1.jpg

[maxxII]

Not a Fairy wrasse....Clown Wrasse, Coris aygula. Grows to about 60 cm (23.6 inches) eats all kinds of meaty foods and inverts. Will topple large rocks in search of a meal.

I wouldnt guess it was reef safe...although reported to do well in marine aquariums.

Nick

[ldrhawke]

Thanks....I guess. :( I don't need a 2 foot long fish in my tank:rolleyes: Now I have to figure out how to catch it and take it back to the LFS.:rolleye1:

[maxxII]

Sorry for the bad news man....this type of wrasse loves to bury in sand and substrate. I cant remember if you have a BB tank or not. IIRC, you are running a controlled wasting plenum??
watch where he sleeps at night, get a net and scoop up the sand etc in the area where he sleeps, you might be able to get him that way...he will wake up and move when the net hits the sand so be ready...food in a trap works well with these fish also.

Nick

[yama63]

Well i have been very intrested in this forum and been looking into a few wrasses.
I finished my 75 gallon and went to the LFS and saw what looks to be a lubbocks fairy wrasse.
It acclamated well and has hidden the first day and a half. I saw it come out late the seconed day and feed some myisis and it at like a pig. The other fish still check it out almost harassing.Any other good info on this wrasse would be greatly apprecated. Also what other fairy will go good with this wrasse?

[mark97r6]

Hi, Sorry for jumping in on an old thread, just hope your still watching.
I would like to add a pair of fairy wrasses, but i keep alot of very small orimental shrimp, like sexy shrimps. Would these be compatable!

Cheers
Mark

[ldrhawke]

My potentially 2 foot long Clown Wrasse is only about 2" long right now but he would make short order of little shrimp. He tries to attack my emerald green crabs and loves to catch anything moving under a rock. I think even fairy wrasse get as large as he is presently, so I sure think any wrasse would make short order of small shrimp. Someone else with more experience should jump in.

[The Shrimp X]

actually the reason your clown wrasse is called not reef safe is because of the fact that all inverts are on their menu. Fairy wrasses are a compleatly diifrent story, they do not harm inverts (except for mysis, brinem, copes, amphs, and a few tiny little inverst) but all shrimps and crabs are perfectly fine. The only problem i can see is some fairy wrasses are territorial, so they might beat up on the shrimp over territory. but just in case i am wrong about them with ornamental shrimp, wait for someone who is an expert on fairies lol.

[mark97r6]

Thanks for the input and trying guys! anyone else??
Mark

[cheeks69]

i keep alot of very small orimental shrimp, like sexy shrimps. Would these be compatable!

IMO it would be risky ! Although they're zooplanktivores they may eat smaller shrimp and Fauna in the LR.

[bronco7777]

Fairy wrasses will never hurt cleaner, fire or peppermint shrimp.

[bronco7777]

Fairy wrasses will never hurt cleaner, fire or peppermint shrimp.

[Thurge]

My coral banded's , Skunk cleaners, Fire, Peppermints, and Pistol's have never been harassed.

[mark97r6]

The reason i have conserns is that the Sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis ) only grow to a max of 1.5", which is very small compared to the shrimp mentioned! would you guys trust yours with these or are they just to tempting at that size?

thanks for trying
Mark

[Thurge]

I would trust them.
But I am a trusting soul. :)

[The Shrimp X]

well my LFS had 2 Longfin Fairy Wrasses in and i couldnt resist so i got the one that was active. He is hiding behind my penguin filter right now. He is amazing.

[botp2k1]

Ok, it took us a while but we're onboard with the rest of the wrasse fans. Any problems adding a solar wrasse and/or a radient wrasse to a tank with already a possum wrasse and filament flasher wrasse?

If it is not a problem, I would make room to reduce the bioload to house the additional solar and radient wrasses.

[evannave]

Hello I have a would like any advice on whether a fairy wrasse would be a good choice as the only fish in a 12 gallon tank. The tank has been running for around 6 months. It haves a great deal of swimming and hiding places. I have filled it with no agrssive coral that have been doing great (zoo, rics, monti, arco)
the tank has unusal specs of width and lenght of 17 inches and a hieght of 9 1/2 inches any advice would be great

[Matt Sable]

Hey, sorry to jump in out of nowhere. Just a few questions on fairies. I've been a little bit confused on fairy aggression; I didn't know you could mix them. If I differed the color patterns, how many groups{1 male 2 females or just males} could I fit in a 55g. I already know that if you want groups{especially in a smaller tank} not to add a supermale. Thanks for any help wrasse fans!!

[luvtolean]

Originally posted by Matt Sable
Hey, sorry to jump in out of nowhere. Just a few questions on fairies. I've been a little bit confused on fairy aggression; I didn't know you could mix them. If I differed the color patterns, how many groups{1 male 2 females or just males} could I fit in a 55g. I already know that if you want groups{especially in a smaller tank} not to add a supermale. Thanks for any help wrasse fans!!

I have a mystery wrasse that's been in the tank for roughly a month. I added a solarenesis and the mystery did chase it around pretty harshly the first 2 days. They eventually got used to each other but the solarenesis died. :confused:

I did have a cleaner shrimp go missing (dunno why) but I haven't caught it hunting/killing my small blue legged hermits either so they seem pretty safe. Other wrasses can be serious predators of the blue legged hermits.

My mystery is a pretty lousy hunter, I still don't know how it lived on the reef, it's good looks I guess. :lol: When I drop pods in the tank from the refugium, the cardinalfish will usually beat the wrasse.

[cheeks69]

For tanks between 55-99 gallons:

There are many smaller species of Cirrhilabrus that rival the beauty of their larger cousins. These include the Blue Sided Wrasse (C.cyanopleura), the Tricolor/Solor Wrasse (C.cyanopleura v.solarensis), and Lubbock’s wrasse (C.lubbocki). C.filamentosus, C.rubriventralis, and C.rubriprinnis are amongst the smallest Cirrhilabrus commonly available (attains mature size of 3 inches). However, their colors are not as dramatic as other species of the genus. Because of their smaller sizes, the aforementioned species can be kept in small aggregations of 1 male to 2-3 females in tanks as small as 55 gallons.

You may also opt to get a single larger Fairy Wrasse versus a small harem of these smaller species. Tanks over 55 gallon can accommodate all known Cirrhilabrus species, provided the tank is lightly stocked and has lots of swimming area.



http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/articles/2002/cirrhilabrus2.html

[cheeks69]

Originally posted by evannave
Hello I have a would like any advice on whether a fairy wrasse would be a good choice as the only fish in a 12 gallon tank. The tank has been running for around 6 months. It haves a great deal of swimming and hiding places. I have filled it with no agrssive coral that have been doing great (zoo, rics, monti, arco)
the tank has unusal specs of width and lenght of 17 inches and a hieght of 9 1/2 inches any advice would be great

Cirrhilabrus should not be kept in tanks smaller then 55 gallons (except for a few rare exceptions). Because of the expanse of their natural roaming territory, these wrasses require a large amount of open water for them to exercise their natural swimming habits. The larger the aquarium (i.e. the more swimming area), the better a Fairy Wrasse will do. Provide rock structure with numerous crevices for them to sleep at night

[Matt Sable]

Originally posted by cheeks69


I've also heard that you should't keep fairies in tanks smaller than a 55g, but I saw a tank on Reefscapes.net that had a single fairy wrasse and a Helfrich's firefish. The tank was incredible because the fairy wrasse was a Cirrhilabrus JOHNSONI {EXTREMELY RARE}!!! Good Luck!!

[o_puff]

What kind of fairy wrasse is this? It was labeled as a "Whipped" fairy wrasse but i have never heard of that type. It looks like a Tono's Fairy Wrasse to me. Not the best picture...

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/46586fairywrassesmall.gif

[just dave]

The Whip Fin Fairy is Cirrhilabrus filamentosus which is similar to
Cirrhilabrus tonozukai ( Tono's Fairy.)
The picture you have is to blurry for me.

[cheeks69]

My new Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/cheeks69/135_3586.jpg

[o_puff]

Ah i see. Well that solves it then. Thanks just dave for the reply. The photo is blurry because I cant seem to get the settings right on my camera to take really good pics.

[just dave]

If the dorsal and anal fins are mostly yellow it is probably Cirrhilabrus filamentosus as opposed to Cirrhilabrus tonozukai .

[o_puff]

Yup the dorsal and anal fins are bright yellow. The stomach is white and its tail is a light purple/blue color. Do you know if its a rare species or not? I haven't seen Cirrhilabrus filamentosus in this thread yet so just wondering.

[just dave]

No,not at all but it's still a nice fish.

Cirrhilabrus filamentosus
http://www.seewasserlexikon.de/fische/lippfische/img/c_filamentosus9cm.jpg

Cirrhilabrus tonozukai
http://www.seewasserlexikon.de/fische/lippfische/img/cirrhilabrus_tonzukai.jpg

[o_puff]

Yup that's exactly it. Cirrhilabrus filamentosus...thanks for all the help!

[cheeks69]

Here's a better pic of the Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura

http://www.reefforum.net/photopost/data/500/18135_3593.JPG

[maxxII]

Looks good Robert! The Potter's looks great also!

Nick

[bjolly]

hey bronco (or any other fairy experts) would it be possible to have 1 of each of these guys in a 125:

rosy fin
yellow streak (lutteovittatus)
social fairy
finespotted

would they get along? would they have to be added all at once to avoid fights?

[Reeferee]

My tricolor wrasse:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/93886tri-wrasse-a.jpg

[bronco7777]

Yes they should get along.

Start with the smallest and work your way up.

In other words....Social fairy and rosy fin first. Goldbar and Finespotted last.

[cknox2]

I am thinking of getting an exquisite wrasse but want to make sure he keeps his colors, so I'll provide a female as well. Is one female generally enough of do you need two in order for the males to stay fully colored up. Any advice is much appreciated.
Clayton

[mark97r6]

will fairy wrasse's get along ok with my leopard wrasse??
Cheers Mark

[ldrhawke]

Labouts Fairy Wrasse (http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/30266Labouts_Fairy_Wrass.jpg)

Pink Margin Wrasse (http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/30266Pink_Margin.jpg)

Two new additons to my tank.

[ldrhawke]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/30266Pink_Margin.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/30266Labouts_Fairy_Wrass.jpg

Try again.....

[Real Reefs]

I think the top one is a social fairy wrasse and not a pink margin fairy.

[ldrhawke]

Originally posted by Real Reefs
I think the top one is a social fairy wrasse and not a pink margin fairy.

You are correct....thanks.

[bronco7777]

cknox,

With the Exquisite you might get away with just one female. That's how I have it in my tank and he stays colored up. I don't know if it's a fluke but my male is always flashing the juvenile girl.

mark97r6,

Yes a leopard will get along with a fairy. But I'd suggest keeping them with the smaller fairies (Ex: Lubbock's or Yellowfin or Social)

Idrhawke,

Those are beautiful. Yes the first one is a social.

[cknox2]

Thanks Bronco.. I'm gonne try one male and one female. I will be adding them with a male Labouti on friday. A great deal at $150 for all 3 wrasses at the LFS.

[Rothie]

Bronco
Do you ever have a problem with males of one species or Genus fighting with males of another species/Genus over the females
in your tank?
I have a male solar warasse,a pair of strawberry wrasses,a male Scotts and 2 females.These are all in seperate tanks right now.I am planning to get a small harem(6) of Carpenters wrasses.They will all go into my 300G reef.
Is this going to cause a problem?

[bronco7777]

Rothie,

No I've never had that problem. Usually a male of one genus will squabble a bit with a male of another genus over territory but not females.

Of course one thing to keep in mind is that some breeds of fairy wrasses are thought to cross-breed with similar neighbors in the wild. Solars, Yellowflanked, and Orangebacks are all considered siblings and some of these breeds probably evolved over years of crossbreeding with each other while living in the same waters. Scientists are still not sure about how many variants there are of cyanopleura wrasses. And if the coloration of both genus are similar....especially in a female, then you might get some aggression. But that is highly unlikely in captivity. It's tough enough just trying to get same-genus males and females to breed in captivity.

In an aquaruim devoted just to fairy and flasher wrasses any squabbles that will occur will come due to territory setups in the tank. Size and age also will play a role. Or similar colorations will also cause problems (Example: housing a rhomboid with a pyle's fairy might create some aggression). But not due to breeding. If your getting harems to trying your luck at breeding these fish, I'm sorry to say that you'll be losing a lot of money and space in your tank to females. Fairy and flashers just won't breed in regular captive aquariums.
If your purchasing harems because you want a natural setting for your fish or because you want to keep the male colored-up, then it's worth your time, money, and space in an aquarium.

In a fairy aquarium most of your squabbles are small, short and due to territory or a fight over a morsel of food.

[Rothie]

Thanks,Bronco.No one is allowed to breed at my house;) I'm just looking for a more natural setting.I have read about the P. carpenteri crossbreeding amoung themselves,but I didn't realize the Cirrhilabrus had the same sexual diversity.

[Typo]

check out my new debelius fairy wrasse.

http://members.cox.net/typo/debelius.jpg

getting a good look at himself
http://members.cox.net/typo/dabeliusmirror.jpg

getting a warm welcome
http://members.cox.net/typo/welcomehome.jpg