Labout's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus laboutei
Labout's Fairy Wrasse showcases a magnificent lemon-yellow body with magenta and neon-blue stripes. An active, reef-safe planktivore requiring a completely jump-proof tank.
Température de l’eau
22 - 27 °C
Valeur du pH
8.1 - 8.4
Type d'eau
Marin
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
12 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 200 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
KH
8 - 12 dKH
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Tropical Western Pacific. Inhabits exposed outer reef slopes and sandy-rubble zones rich in hard corals of the Coral Sea down to depths of 55 meters. They are usually found in areas with moderate to strong currents that bring a steady supply of zooplankton.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Labridae. Reaches about 12 cm. Torpedo-shaped, laterally compressed body, with eyes equipped with a specialized cornea for depth. Their specialized double pupil allows them to detect tiny prey items and predators in a wide field of vision.
Social Behavior: Tireless and elegant swimmer. At night it produces a gelatinous, transparent cocoon to hide its scent from predators. During courtship, the male flashes its colors intensely to attract females and deter competing males in the area.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Unique and spectacular coloration: lemon-yellow body striped with longitudinal magenta, orange, and neon-blue lines. Multicolored rounded caudal fin. The transition from female to male involves a dramatic increase in color saturation and changes in fin length.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Tank of at least 200 liters (55 gallons) rich in rocks with many open lanes for fast swimming in mid-water. Maintain stable lighting. Providing a thick sand bed is beneficial as they may bury themselves when highly stressed or during transport.
Diet and Feeding: Carnivore. Provide a varied diet with mysis, brine shrimp, fresh or frozen copepods, and small-sized enriched dry pellets. Feeding multiple times a day in small portions is critical to prevent weight loss and maintain energy levels.
Water Quality: Temperature 22-27°C (72-80°F), pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025. Excellent water quality guaranteed by a good skimmer. High oxygen saturation levels are required, which can be maintained with strong surface agitation and protein skimming.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: 100% reef-safe. Does not cause damage to hard or soft corals, or medium-sized ornamental crustaceans. Excellent tankmate for community tanks. Peaceful tankmates like anthias, chromis, and other non-aggressive wrasses make ideal choices for cohabitation.
Aquarium Breeding: Reproduction is not recorded in domestic captivity due to the complex pelagic larval phase. Captive spawning behavior is rare and requires simulating natural reef sunset conditions and pristine water quality.
Risks and Diseases: Jumps frequently if startled or disturbed. It is necessary to cover the top of the aquarium perfectly with a fine mesh screen. Due to their active nature, they can injure their mouths on rough net meshes during capture and handling.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Tropical Western Pacific. Inhabits exposed outer reef slopes and sandy-rubble zones rich in hard corals of the Coral Sea down to depths of 55 meters. They are usually found in areas with moderate to strong currents that bring a steady supply of zooplankton.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAustralie, Nouvelle-Guinée et Océanie
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Active
- Labout's Fairy Wrasse is active, curious, and non-aggressive, spending most of its time in the middle to lower levels of the tank. It establishes a social hierarchy within its harem where the dominant male acts as the leader. At night, it builds a mucous cocoon around its body to hide its scent from benthic predators while sleeping. A secure and tight lid is essential as they are known to jump when startled or stressed.
- Régime alimentaire
- Carnivore
- This species is a carnivorous zooplanktivore that requires a varied diet rich in marine proteins to maintain its health and vibrant coloration. In captivity, it should be fed frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, and krill. High-quality dry foods, including color-enhancing pellets and flakes, are also readily accepted. Regular supplementation with vitamins and fatty acids is recommended to preserve the brilliant magenta, yellow, and blue stripes of the males.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-8 years
- Taille adulte
- 12 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Harem
- Solitary or in harem (one male, multiple females).
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- Labout's Fairy Wrasse has a fast metabolism and should be fed two to three times daily in small portions. Frequent small meals ensure that they remain active and maintain their weight in a community setup. This feeding pattern closely matches their natural behavior of feeding on zooplankton in the water column. Care should be taken to avoid overfeeding, which could compromise water quality and stress the fish.
- Charge biologique
- Medium
- Due to their active swimming behavior and rapid metabolism, Laboute's Fairy Wrasses require generous and frequent feedings of meaty items. This constant nutrient input results in a moderate to slightly elevated bioload compared to more sedentary fish. To keep water parameters stable, the aquarium must feature a mature biological filter and efficient nutrient export systems.
- Courant
- Strong
- This wrasse prefers moderate water movement, simulating the reef environment of its native Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef waters. Adequate flow ensures high oxygen levels, which are critical for its active swimming habits. It also helps transport food throughout the water column, encouraging natural feeding responses. The aquascape should include caves and low-flow areas where the fish can seek shelter and sleep peacefully.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Laboute's Fairy Wrasse is a notorious jumper that will not hesitate to leap out of the water if chased by an aggressive fish or startled by a flash of light. They are powerful swimmers capable of reaching impressive heights above the water surface. Maintaining a completely covered aquarium with no gaps near the equipment is completely non-negotiable for their safety.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Labout's Fairy Wrasse is a protogynous hermaphrodite and has not been bred successfully in the home aquarium. In nature, they reproduce via pelagic spawning, releasing eggs and sperm simultaneously into open water. Courtship is marked by the male displaying intense, flashing colors to court the females of his harem. The pelagic larvae drift in ocean currents, presenting a complex challenge that is difficult to replicate in closed systems.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Peaceful
- This species is peaceful and reef-safe, making it highly compatible with other non-aggressive marine fish. It can be kept in a harem configuration consisting of a single male and several females. Good tankmates include anthias, peaceful gobies, cardfish, and small peaceful surgeonfish. Avoid housing them with aggressive predators or other male fairy wrasses of similar color to prevent territorial aggression.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- Mid-water
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,4 ± 0,45 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01072, b = 3.03
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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