Mutant Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus apterygia
This unique Australian wrasse lacks pelvic fins and exhibits vibrant colors. It needs a 200L tank with ample swimming space, a tight-fitting lid to prevent jumping, and a frequent meaty diet.
Wassertemperatur
22 - 26 °C
pH-Wert
8.1 - 8.4
Wassertyp
Meerwasser
Tankfüllstand
Oberfläche und Mitte
Erwachsenengröße
7 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 120 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 1
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: This species is highly localized, recorded exclusively at Rowley Shoals off the northwestern coast of Australia. It populates steep outer reef slopes at depths of 30 to 40 meters, swimming over rubble fields and detritus zones interspersed with patches of live coral.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Originally described in the monotypic genus Conniella as Conniella apterygia, it was later reclassified into the genus Cirrhilabrus. Its most extraordinary morphological feature, unique within the Labridae family, is the complete absence of pelvic fins and pelvic girdle. It reaches a maximum length of 8 cm.
Social Behavior: An active, gregarious, and tireless swimmer. It lives in loose aggregations composed of one dominant male and a harem of females. Males perform spectacular courtship displays to maintain harem cohesion and deter rivals, swimming rapidly with fully extended fins.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Displays strong chromatic dimorphism. Adult males have vibrant red and yellow or whitish horizontal stripes along their sides, a red dorsal fin with blue and yellow outer bands, and a pointed caudal fin with iridescent hues. Females are less colorful, mostly reddish or pinkish with subdued stripes.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Requires a spacious aquarium of at least 200-250 liters with plenty of open swimming space. A tight-fitting lid or mesh cover is absolutely essential, as this species is an exceptional jumper and will easily leap out of the tank when startled. Provide live rock structures for nocturnal shelter.
Diet and Feeding: Primarily planktivorous, requiring feeding multiple times a day. Their diet should consist of small frozen foods like mysis, brine shrimp, copepods, and fish eggs, as well as high-quality dry granules or flakes enriched with vitamins to maintain their immune system and coloration.
Water Quality: Standard marine parameters are required: temperature 22-26 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025. Efficient filtration with moderate-to-high water movement and strong oxygenation is critical to replicate the current-swept environments of outer reef slopes.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Very peaceful and reef-safe. It does well with other non-aggressive, peaceful reef species. A group consisting of one male and several symbols can be kept, provided they are introduced simultaneously or the females are added first. Avoid housing with aggressive tankmates.
Aquarium Breeding: No successful breeding cases have been documented in captivity. In the wild, they spawn in open water, releasing pelagic eggs into the water column after an ascending courtship ritual. The larvae drift as plankton before settling onto rubble reef zones.
Risks and Diseases: The primary risk is jumping out of uncovered tanks. Upon introduction, they may be shy and stressed, requiring a quiet acclimation period. They are susceptible to common marine parasites like Cryptocaryon irritans and Amyloodinium if subjected to environmental stress.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
This species is highly localized, recorded exclusively at Rowley Shoals off the northwestern coast of Australia. It populates steep outer reef slopes at depths of 30 to 40 meters, swimming over rubble fields and detritus zones interspersed with patches of live coral.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und RiffeAustralien, Neuguinea und Ozeanien
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Renowned for their wonderfully peaceful and gregarious temperament, they rarely ever bother other species within the aquarium setting. They can sometimes be slightly shy when initially introduced, demanding a peaceful acclimation period away from aggressive bullies. Once fully settled and comfortable, their bold, constantly active, and visually striking swimming patterns bring incredible life to the display tank. Although males may actively flash and chase each other to establish dominance, this behavior is rarely harmful if the tank is sufficiently spacious.
- Diät
- Carnivore
- They are quintessential zooplanktivores in the wild, spending their days actively plucking tiny crustaceans and plankton directly from the water currents. In the home aquarium, they eagerly accept a remarkably wide variety of meaty foods, including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and high-quality marine flakes. Providing a diversified diet enhanced with vitamins and color-enhancing additives is crucial for maintaining their brilliantly intense coloration. They are generally aggressive eaters and will readily learn to feed from the aquarist's hand or an automated feeder.
- Lebenserwartung
- 3-5 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 7 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Solitary
- They are fascinating protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning every single individual is born female and dominant females will naturally transition into males if the social hierarchy dictates. They are exceptionally well-suited to being kept in beautiful harems consisting of one spectacular male and several subordinate females. Keeping multiple males of the precise same species is generally unadvised as it can trigger severe, potentially lethal territorial disputes. Interestingly, the mere presence of multiple females often encourages the lone male to continuously display his most vibrant, terminal-phase colors.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- 2-3 times daily
- To optimally sustain their high energy levels and rapid metabolism, they require frequent feedings of small portions throughout the day. It is highly recommended to feed them at least two to three times daily with a mix of high-quality frozen and prepared foods. Insufficient feeding frequency can quickly lead to noticeable weight loss and a distressing fading of their normally vibrant colors. Using an automatic feeder to dispense small amounts of pellets during the day can greatly assist in meeting their immense dietary needs.
- Bioload
- Low
- Fairy wrasses contribute a moderate bioload to the aquarium system, primarily due to their highly active swimming nature and correspondingly high metabolic requirements. They consume significant amounts of food daily, which naturally translates into regular waste production. A capable biological filtration setup combined with a highly efficient protein skimmer is highly recommended to process their organic output. Maintaining a strict schedule of regular water changes is essential to keep nitrate and phosphate levels well within acceptable reef parameters.
- Fluss
- Moderate
- Coming from highly dynamic and energetic reef environments, they strongly prefer moderate to high water flow within the aquarium. Vigorous currents mimic their natural zooplankton-rich habitats and stimulate their natural, elegant swimming behaviors in the open water. Good circulation also ensures the water is highly oxygenated, which is absolutely vital for such active and fast-paced fish. Wavemakers should be utilized to create varied, turbulent flow patterns that prevent stagnant detritus buildup.
- Sprungrisiko
- Yes
- They possess a profound and well-documented tendency to jump out of the aquarium, especially when frightened, newly introduced, or chased by tank mates. Their incredible swimming speed easily translates into airborne leaps, making them one of the highest jump-risk species available in the hobby. A completely tight-fitting lid, completely enclosed canopy, or perfectly customized mesh screen is a non-negotiable, absolute requirement for keeping them. Even tiny gaps around return pipes or overflow boxes must be secured to prevent a tragic, fatal escape.
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- They are pelagic spawners that engage in a stunning, complex, and highly coordinated upward mating dance toward the water's surface at dusk. The male dramatically flashes his most brilliant, iridescent colors to court females before simultaneously releasing gametes into the swift water column. While these breathtaking spawning behaviors are frequently observed in spacious home aquariums, successfully raising the fry is nearly impossible. The microscopic pelagic larvae require incredibly specialized rotifer diets and immense, highly specialized rearing vessels to survive past the first week.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- Peaceful
- Known for their wonderfully peaceful and completely reef-safe demeanor, they are a phenomenal addition to most community marine aquariums. They generally ignore corals, sessile invertebrates, and ornamental shrimp, focusing their attention entirely on the water column. While highly compatible with a vast array of peaceful tank mates, males of the same or closely related species may exhibit flashy, harmless aggression. Mixing different species of fairy wrasses is often successful if they are introduced simultaneously or into a sufficiently large aquarium.
- Tankfüllstand
- Top/Middle
- They are intensely active fish that predominantly inhabit the middle and upper levels of the aquarium's open water column. They are almost constantly in motion, gracefully weaving through the water as they scan for floating morsels of zooplankton. When night falls or when severely frightened, they will rapidly retreat downward to spin a protective, transparent mucus cocoon in the rockwork crevices. Providing ample, unobstructed swimming space above the aquascape is absolutely critical for their physical health and behavioral wellbeing.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase v25.04Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 3,3 ± 0,4 se
- Belastbarkeit
- Hoch (weniger als 15 Monate)
- Phylogenetische Einzigartigkeit (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayessche Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung
- a = 0.00389, b = 3.12
- AnfälligkeitGeringe Anfälligkeit (10 / 100)
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