Pin-Tail Fairy Wrasse

Overview

The Pin-Tail Fairy Wrasse is a vividly coloured fairy wrasse notable for the delicate, elongated filament trailing from the centre of its tail, a distinctive feature not shared by many other Cirrhilabrus species. Its body typically displays a mix of red, orange, and purple tones, particularly vivid in mature males.

It shares the general hardiness and peaceful temperament typical of fairy wrasses, generally settling well into a reef tank and adding constant colour and movement to the middle and upper water column.

As with most fairy wrasses, males intensify their colouration and display their tail filament prominently during courtship or territorial disputes, adding an extra dimension of behaviour to observe.

Compatibility

Pin-Tail Fairy Wrasses are peaceful and fully reef safe, ignoring corals and invertebrates. They can be kept singly or, in a large enough tank, as one male with several females, though two males in a smaller system may show aggressive displays toward each other.

They mix well with other peaceful to semi-aggressive community fish and are rarely bullied given their alert, quick-swimming nature.

Health & quarantine

This species is generally hardy once acclimated, though like most wrasses it's a capable jumper, so a secure, gap-free lid is essential. A minimum four-week quarantine is recommended, and this species typically settles in and feeds well without major complications.