Labout's Fairy Wrasse

The Labout's Fairy Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus laboutei, is a spectacular saltwater fish known for its intricate striping and vivid combination of red, magenta, yellow, blue, and silvery-white coloration. Also commonly called Laboute's Fairy Wrasse or the Magenta-Streaked Wrasse, this species displays noticeable differences between males and females, with mature males generally developing the most intense coloration. It reaches approximately 4.7–5 inches in total length.

Native to the southwestern Pacific, Cirrhilabrus laboutei occurs around the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea as well as New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, and Vanuatu. In the wild, it inhabits reef slopes with coral, rock, and rubble at depths of approximately 7–55 meters.

Active yet generally peaceful, this fairy wrasse is an excellent choice for a well-established reef aquarium or peaceful fish-only aquarium. Its brilliant coloration, constant midwater activity, and strong reef compatibility make it particularly desirable for display systems, while its relatively modest adult size allows it to fit comfortably into appropriately sized medium-to-large marine aquariums.

Quick Care Guide

Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Planktivore / Carnivore
Reef Safe: Yes
Region: Southwestern Pacific – Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands, Vanuatu
Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus laboutei

A 70-gallon or larger aquarium provides appropriate long-term swimming room for this active fairy wrasse, which approaches 5 inches as an adult.

Tank Requirements

The Labout's Fairy Wrasse should be provided with a well-established saltwater aquarium containing ample open swimming space combined with secure live rock and caves. Although it spends much of its time actively swimming through the water column, rockwork provides important shelter when the fish is startled or ready to rest. Its natural habitat consists of coral, rock, and rubble along reef slopes.

Unlike wrasses that routinely bury themselves in sand, fairy wrasses of this type retreat into protected areas of the rockwork at night rather than depending on a deep sand bed for sleeping. A specialized substrate is therefore not required, although sand is perfectly suitable as part of a typical reef aquarium setup.

A tight-fitting lid or securely fitted mesh cover is essential. Labout's Fairy Wrasses are strong jumpers and can escape through surprisingly small openings, particularly when newly introduced, startled, or pursued by another fish.

Provide good filtration, stable water quality, and moderate water movement while leaving plenty of unobstructed horizontal swimming room.

Diet and Feeding

The Labout's Fairy Wrasse is primarily a planktivore, naturally feeding on small zooplankton and other tiny marine organisms suspended in the water column. In captivity, it should receive a varied diet of appropriately sized, protein-rich marine foods.

Offer mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped krill, copepods, frozen plankton blends, finely chopped marine seafood, and quality marine pellets. Most established specimens adapt well to prepared frozen and dry foods.

Because fairy wrasses naturally feed repeatedly throughout the day, two to three smaller feedings daily are preferable when practical. Regular feeding helps maintain body condition, activity, and coloration.

Temperament and Tankmates

The Labout's Fairy Wrasse is generally peaceful and mixes well with a wide variety of reef-safe community fish. Suitable tankmates include peaceful tangs, anthias, gobies, blennies, cardinalfish, smaller angelfish, and other non-predatory marine species.

Some territorial behavior can occur toward other fairy wrasses, particularly between mature males or similarly colored species. When maintaining several Cirrhilabrus wrasses, a larger aquarium with abundant swimming room and visual breaks is recommended.

A single specimen is an excellent choice for most aquariums. A male may also be maintained with compatible females in a sufficiently spacious system, but multiple mature males of the same species should be approached cautiously. LiveAquaria specifically notes that a male can be maintained with a group of females when introduced appropriately.

Avoid housing this wrasse with large predatory fish or highly aggressive tankmates that may intimidate it or prevent it from feeding normally.

Reef Compatibility

The Labout's Fairy Wrasse is considered reef safe and is an excellent candidate for coral-dominated aquariums. It does not normally damage stony corals, soft corals, zoanthids, or clams and is widely maintained in reef systems.

Unlike many larger wrasses, Cirrhilabrus laboutei is not normally a threat to established ornamental shrimp, crabs, or snails. It will, however, consume tiny planktonic organisms and microcrustaceans as part of its normal feeding behavior.

Its combination of vivid coloration, active swimming behavior, and strong coral compatibility makes it particularly well suited to established mixed and SPS-dominated reef aquariums.

Water Parameters

Temperature: 75–80°F
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Maintain stable, well-oxygenated saltwater conditions and prioritize consistency over chasing exact numbers. Avoid rapid fluctuations in temperature, salinity, or pH, especially during acclimation.

Common Considerations

• Exceptional jumping ability: A tight-fitting lid or secure mesh cover is essential for long-term housing.

• Active swimmer: Despite an adult size of only about 5 inches, this species benefits from substantial horizontal swimming space and a 70-gallon or larger aquarium.

• Frequent feeding: Small meaty marine foods offered two to three times daily closely suit its natural planktivorous feeding strategy.

• Wrasse compatibility: Usually peaceful with unrelated fish, but mature males may become territorial toward similar fairy wrasses.

• Rockwork for security: Provide caves and protected crevices where the fish can retreat at night or whenever it feels threatened.