Laboutei Fairy Wrasse

Overview

The Laboutei Fairy Wrasse is a striking deepwater fairy wrasse with a vivid combination of red, purple, and yellow tones, males displaying particularly intense colouration during courtship or territorial disputes. Being collected from somewhat deeper reef slopes than many other fairy wrasses, it can require a little more care during acclimation and initial settling in.

Once established, it shares the general hardiness and peaceful temperament typical of the wider fairy wrasse group, adding constant colour and movement to the middle and upper water column of a reef tank.

Its relative rarity and vivid colouration make it a sought-after centrepiece fish for keepers wanting something a bit more special than the more commonly available fairy wrasse species.

Compatibility

Laboutei 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

Given its deepwater origin, this species can be a little more sensitive during the initial acclimation period than shallow-water fairy wrasses, so a calm, well-established tank and careful drip acclimation are worthwhile. A minimum four-week quarantine is recommended, and like most wrasses it's a capable jumper, so a secure lid is essential.