How large an aquarium does a Fairy Lineatus Wrasse need, and does it require a lid?

Plan on a 70-gallon aquarium or larger for an adult, with additional volume when other wrasses are present. A tightly fitted lid and secured overflow are essential because this species jumps when startled.

Can more than one Lineatus Fairy Wrasse be kept together?

Do not house multiple males in a typical aquarium. A single male alone, or one male with a female or several females in a sufficiently large system, is the workable approach.

What should this wrasse be fed and how often?

Offer small zooplankton-type and meaty foods such as mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, Cyclops, and finely chopped krill, with marine flakes or small pellets as supplements. Feed at least twice daily, and two to three times daily for newly introduced fish.

Fairy Lineatus Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus lineatus

Wrasse Reef Safe Carnivore Pest Control

Care Level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Reef Safe

Yes

Max Size

4.7 inches

Min Tank

70 gallons

Origin

Southwestern Pacific

Diet

Planktivore

Food

Frozen Mysis Shrimp, Enriched Brine Shrimp, Copepods, Cyclops, Finely Chopped Krill, Chopped Marine Seafood, Marine Flake Food, Small Marine Pellets

Fairy Lineatus Wrasse is not in stock right now.

Shop Wrasses 67 available

Cirrhilabrus lineatus is among the more striking fairy wrasses available to reef keepers, reaching roughly 4.7 inches as an adult. The laterally compressed body carries lavender-pink tones with yellow along the upper flanks and pale yellow to white below, overlaid by rows of purple-blue lines that fragment into dashes and spots toward the rear. Fins are yellow with blue markings. Males develop the most intense coloration and carry an additional stripe along the belly, a feature absent in the paler females. The species occurs in the southwestern to western-central Pacific, from New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, where it patrols clear outer reef slopes.

Adults deserve a spacious reef or fish-only system of at least 70 gallons, with generous open midwater room balanced against mature rockwork offering caves and crevices for retreat and overnight shelter. This wrasse does not typically bury itself in sand, so it relies on rock structure for security. Larger volumes are especially appropriate when additional wrasses share the display. A tightly fitted lid and screened or secured overflow are not optional: startled individuals jump readily and are frequently lost through small openings. Stable, well-oxygenated water and strong flow across open swimming lanes suit this species best.

On the reef, Cirrhilabrus lineatus feeds on zooplankton picked from the water column above the slope. In captivity, that translates to a varied rotation of small meaty items: frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, Cyclops, and finely chopped krill or other marine seafood. Well-formulated marine flakes and small pellets work as supplements once the fish is settled and feeding confidently alongside tankmates.

Because a planktivore processes many small meals rather than one large one, offer food at least twice daily, and ideally two to three times per day. Newly introduced specimens benefit from even more frequent feeding while they build condition. This species can be sensitive during shipping and acclimation, so choose an active individual that is already eating, and inspect the mouth for transport injuries before purchase.

Frozen Mysis Shrimp Enriched Brine Shrimp Copepods Cyclops Finely Chopped Krill Chopped Marine Seafood Marine Flake Food Small Marine Pellets

Expect an active, diurnal swimmer that spends the day cruising open water and darting back to rockwork when alarmed. Toward unrelated community fish it is peaceful and docile, though it can turn territorial toward other fairy wrasses, particularly rival males. Overly assertive tankmates are a poor match; intimidation often triggers frantic upward escape attempts and jumping. Keep one male per aquarium, or house a single male with a female or a small group of females where space genuinely allows. Females and subordinate individuals may shift into dominant male coloration and status over time.

For reef displays, this wrasse is a dependable choice. It leaves corals alone and coexists with ornamental invertebrates such as clams, snails, hermit crabs, and cleaner shrimp. The one caveat follows directly from its natural diet: very small planktonic crustaceans drifting in the water column may be eaten, so reef safety here should not be read as total immunity for microscopic or exceptionally tiny crustacean life. Introduce similar wrasses cautiously and with plenty of visual breaks in the rockwork.

Recommended Products

Premium Fish Food - Pellets - Reef Genetics

$11.99

TDO-C2 Chroma BOOST Fish Food - Reef Nutrition

$14.99

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Fairy Lineatus Wrasse

How large an aquarium does a Fairy Lineatus Wrasse need, and does it require a lid?

Plan on a 70-gallon aquarium or larger for an adult, with additional volume when other wrasses are present. A tightly fitted lid and secured overflow are essential because this species jumps when startled.
Can more than one Lineatus Fairy Wrasse be kept together?

Do not house multiple males in a typical aquarium. A single male alone, or one male with a female or several females in a sufficiently large system, is the workable approach.
What should this wrasse be fed and how often?

Offer small zooplankton-type and meaty foods such as mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, Cyclops, and finely chopped krill, with marine flakes or small pellets as supplements. Feed at least twice daily, and two to three times daily for newly introduced fish.

Shop

Shop Related

Hand-picked Wrasses for your Fairy Lineatus Wrasse.