Fine-Spotted Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus punctatus)

The Fine-Spotted Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus punctatus) is a reddish fairy wrasse dusted head to tail with tiny pale-blue dots, set off by a crisp white belly, a black mark at the base of each pectoral fin, and a golden tail. It comes from the Coral Sea and the southwest Pacific, from the Great Barrier Reef out to Fiji and Tonga, where it hovers above the reef picking plankton from the current. Peaceful, active, and completely reef safe. Browse the rest of our saltwater livestock and supplies to build out the tank.

Sold as an Individual, Sex Not Guaranteed

Like all fairy wrasses, this species starts life as a female, and the dominant fish can later turn male. Our fish is sold as an individual and its sex is not guaranteed. Females and young fish show a small black spot at the top of the tail base and a dark spot at the front of the dorsal fin. Males grow very long pelvic fins, often half the length of the body, and flash brighter colors when they display. A single female kept as the only fairy wrasse in a tank will often turn male over time.

The photo shows a representative fish in female-type coloring rather than the exact fish you will take home. Ask us in store and we are happy to show you the fish in the tank.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 75 gallons or larger. It reaches about 5 inches and swims the open water all day, so give it length and plenty of swimming room above the rockwork.
• Lid is non-negotiable: fairy wrasses are famous jumpers, and a startled one will clear an open top in a heartbeat. Use a tight lid or a fine mesh screen with no gaps.
• Water parameters: 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, salinity 1.020 to 1.026, dKH 8 to 12. Keep conditions stable.
• Feeding: a zooplankton hunter. Offer small meaty foods like PE Mysis, frozen brine shrimp, and quality marine pellets two or three times a day in small portions. Frequent feedings keep it full-bodied and colorful.
• Keep it confident: peaceful tankmates and plenty of rockwork with caves and overhangs give it places to dart into, which keeps it out in the open more often.
• Night behavior: it sleeps tucked into the rockwork inside a thin mucus cocoon. This is completely normal, so do not worry when it disappears at lights out.

Specifications

Compatibility

Fairy wrasses are peaceful with nearly everything: clownfish like our Darwin Misbar Ocellaris Clownfish, gobies, blennies, tangs, anthias, and cardinals. Good tank mates include the Firefish Goby, Royal Gramma, Blue Green Chromis, Banggai Cardinalfish, and cleanup crew like the Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp. It ignores corals and invertebrates. Skip large predators and bullies such as groupers, big triggers, and aggressive dottybacks, which will keep it hiding.

Keep one male fairy wrasse per tank unless the tank is very large. Different fairy wrasse species can share a big system if they are added together. Looking at other fairies? See our Naoko's Fairy Wrasse, Clown Fairy Wrasse, and Pink Margin Fairy Wrasse Pair.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Piscine Energetics PE Mysis, the staple that keeps fairy wrasses fat and colorful
• Ocean Nutrition Frozen Brine Shrimp Plus, an easy conditioning food
• Ocean Nutrition Frozen Formula One, a balanced meaty blend
• Ocean Nutrition Formula 1 Pellets, for daily dry feedings

FAQ

Is it a male or a female?
We sell it as an individual and cannot guarantee the sex. A female or young fish has a small black spot at the top of the tail base. A male grows long, trailing pelvic fins and shows brighter display colors. Kept as the only fairy wrasse in a tank, a female will often turn male over time.

Is the Fine-Spotted Fairy Wrasse reef safe?
Yes, completely. It hunts zooplankton in the water column and leaves corals, clams, shrimp, and snails alone.

Why did it vanish at night?
It is asleep in the rockwork, wrapped in a thin mucus cocoon. Fairy wrasses do this every night, and it will be back out once the lights come on.

How big a tank does it need?
Plan on 75 gallons or more. It grows to about 5 inches, larger than many fairy wrasses, and spends the day cruising the open water.