Naoko's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus naokoae)

The Naoko's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus naokoae) is one of the showiest small reef fish money can buy: a male in display color wears a deep crimson back, a glowing golden band behind the head, and a soft pink-white belly, all flickering as he cruises and flashes at his reflection. This listing is for a male in full color. Completely reef safe and peaceful, fairy wrasses are the ideal centerpiece for a mixed reef that already has its cleanup crew sorted. Browse the rest of our saltwater livestock and supplies while you plan.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 55 gallons or larger. He stays around 3 inches but swims constantly in open water above the rockwork.
• Lid is non-negotiable: fairy wrasses are famous jumpers, and a startled one will find any gap. A tight mesh lid is the single most important piece of equipment for this fish.
• Water parameters: 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, salinity 1.020 to 1.026, dKH 8 to 12.
• Feeding: a zooplankton hunter. Offer small meaty foods like PE Mysis, frozen brine shrimp, and a quality pellet such as Formula One, ideally two or three small feedings a day. A varied, frequent diet keeps his red and gold at maximum saturation.
• Keep him confident: peaceful tankmates and plenty of rockwork hiding spots keep a fairy wrasse out in the open. Bullied or stressed males fade and hide.
• Night behavior: he sleeps tucked deep in the rock inside a thin mucus cocoon. Disappearing at lights-out is normal, not a problem.

Specifications

Compatibility

Fairy wrasses are peaceful with nearly everything: clownfish, gobies, blennies, tangs, anthias, cardinals, and all corals and invertebrates. Keep only one male Cirrhilabrus per tank unless the system is very large, since males of similar species can squabble over display rights. Milder wrasses from other genera, like the Neon Wrasse, usually mix in without drama. Avoid housing him with aggressive dottybacks or large angry damsels that would keep him hiding.

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 the Naoko's Fairy Wrasse reef safe?
Yes, one hundred percent. It hunts zooplankton in the water column and never bothers corals, shrimp, snails, or clams. It is one of the safest fish you can add to a reef.

Will he keep his bright colors?
With frequent varied feeding and peaceful tankmates, yes. Males fade when stressed, underfed, or kept without an audience. Feeding two or three small meals a day and giving him secure rockwork is the recipe for a permanently lit-up wrasse.

Can I keep him with other wrasses?
One male fairy wrasse per tank is the safe rule. Wrasses from different genera, like a Neon Wrasse or a Melanurus, generally coexist fine in 75 gallons and up.

Why did he vanish at night?
He is asleep inside the rockwork, wrapped in a thin mucus cocoon that fairy wrasses spin each evening. He will reappear shortly after the lights come on.