Naoko's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus naokoae
Native to Indonesia, this wrasse features a striking tri-color pattern and sail-like pelvic fins. It requires a 150L tank, a tight mesh lid to stop jumping, and a frequent zooplankton-based diet.
Wassertemperatur
22 - 26 °C
pH-Wert
8.1 - 8.4
Wassertyp
Meerwasser
Tankfüllstand
Mitte
Erwachsenengröße
6,5 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 100 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 1
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the eastern Indian Ocean, primarily recorded along the coasts of Sumatra, Indonesia. It inhabits outer coral reefs and rocky slopes at moderate depths, typically between 10 and 25 meters, moving close to substrates rich in corals and algae.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Belongs to the family Labridae, genus Cirrhilabrus. It is a small-sized wrasse, reaching about 6-7 centimeters in standard length. Males are characterized by a high, dark dorsal fin and exceptionally elongated, wide, dark pelvic fins that resemble sails.
Social Behavior: Extremely active and dynamic. Adult males exhibit spectacular courtship displays, suddenly raising their large pelvic and dorsal fins to intimidate rivals or attract females. It is a harem-dwelling species that can show territoriality towards similarly shaped wrasses.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Displays a beautiful tri-color pattern. The back is bright red, separated by a median golden-yellow stripe running along the sides, and the belly is pure white. The dorsal fin is black with blue and red reflections, and the pelvic fins are black. Females are smaller, predominantly red, with short pelvic fins.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Requires a tank of at least 150 liters with plenty of live rock arranged to form crevices and caves, but leaving a large central space for active swimming. It is crucial to equip the aquarium with a tight mesh lid or glass cover, as it is a persistent jumper.
Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous species. Feeds on zooplankton in the wild. In the aquarium, it readily accepts frozen foods such as mysis, brine shrimp, copepods, and lobster eggs, and easily adapts to high-quality dry pellets or flakes. Feed 2-3 times daily.
Water Quality: Maintain water parameters within standard ranges: temperature 24-28 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, and specific gravity 1.020-1.025. Requires well-oxygenated water with good surface movement to promote gas exchange and efficient filtration.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Suitable for reef aquariums (reef-safe). Coexists well with peaceful and robust fish. Males can show strong aggression towards other fish of the genus Cirrhilabrus or wrasses with red and yellow coloration. Introduce last if added to a community tank.
Aquarium Breeding: No successful breeding cases have been recorded in home aquariums. In nature, spawning occurs in pairs, with the release of floating eggs fertilized in open water during a rapid dash toward the surface.
Risks and Diseases: The risk of jumping out is extremely high. It is also prone to snout injuries caused by colliding with glass walls when startled. Moderately resistant to common parasitic diseases like Ich, but requires proper acclimation and quarantine.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Native to the eastern Indian Ocean, primarily recorded along the coasts of Sumatra, Indonesia. It inhabits outer coral reefs and rocky slopes at moderate depths, typically between 10 and 25 meters, moving close to substrates rich in corals and algae.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und RiffeSüd- und Südostasien
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Territorial
- 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
- Planktivore
- 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
- 4-7 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 6.5 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Harem
- 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
- Twice 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 to Medium
- 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
- Strong
- 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
- Reef safe
- 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
- 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 = 0.01072, b = 3.03
- AnfälligkeitGeringe Anfälligkeit (10 / 100)
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