Red Finned Fairy Wrasse - Cirrhilabrus adornatus

Red Finned Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus adornatus)

The Red Finned Fairy Wrasse is an attractive and active marine wrasse admired for its vivid red to pink finnage, elegant body shape and colourful adult markings. Mature males can become particularly striking, displaying stronger contrast and intensified colour during social interactions. Peaceful, reef safe and well suited to established community aquariums, this species benefits from a secure lid, plenty of rockwork and regular feeding with small marine foods.

Common Name:
Red Finned Fairy Wrasse, Red Fin Fairy Wrasse

Scientific Name (Latin):
Cirrhilabrus adornatus

Maximum Size:
Approximately 8–9 cm

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
The Red Finned Fairy Wrasse occurs in tropical Indo-Pacific reef environments and is associated with coral-rich reef slopes, rubble areas and open water close to established reef structure.

It typically spends the day swimming above and around the reef while remaining close enough to shelter quickly when threatened.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–26°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: SG 1.024–1.026
Nitrate: Low and stable
Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm

Temperament:
Peaceful

The Red Finned Fairy Wrasse is generally peaceful towards unrelated marine fish and is well suited to community reef aquariums.

Males may display towards similar fairy wrasses and can become mildly territorial where several closely related species are kept together.

Diet:
Carnivore / Planktivore

The Red Finned Fairy Wrasse naturally feeds on small planktonic organisms within the water column.

In the aquarium, offer a varied diet including frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped krill and quality small marine pellets or flakes.

Several smaller meals throughout the day are beneficial due to its active swimming behaviour and relatively high metabolism.

Minimum Tank Size:
Approximately 150 litres

A mature aquarium with plenty of open swimming room and established rockwork is recommended.

Behaviour & Activity:
The Red Finned Fairy Wrasse is an energetic daytime swimmer that commonly occupies the middle and upper areas of the aquarium.

Provide substantial open swimming space alongside caves, overhangs and secure rockwork where the fish can retreat and sleep.

Unlike many Halichoeres wrasses, fairy wrasses do not require a deep sandbed for sleeping and instead shelter within rockwork.

A tightly fitted aquarium lid is essential, as fairy wrasses are accomplished jumpers.

Reef Safe:
Reef Safe

The Red Finned Fairy Wrasse is generally considered reef safe and does not normally damage healthy corals, clams or established ornamental invertebrates.

Its feeding behaviour is focused primarily on small planktonic foods rather than coral tissue or larger reef inhabitants.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Provide a mature marine aquarium with stable water chemistry, good filtration and plenty of secure rockwork.

A tightly fitted lid is essential because fairy wrasses can jump suddenly when startled, during feeding or during acclimation.

Avoid highly aggressive or territorial tankmates that may prevent this peaceful wrasse from feeding comfortably.

If keeping several fairy wrasses, provide sufficient space and introduce them carefully to reduce territorial disputes.

Regular varied feeding helps maintain strong colouration and healthy body condition.

Mature males may display more intense red and pink colouration during social interactions.

Suitable for:
Intermediate

Availability:
Availability can vary depending on season, collection area and supplier.

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.