Magma Fairy Wrasse - Male
Magma Fairy Wrasse - Male
Goes well with:
FAQs Answers to the most common questions.
How do I reliably tell a Magma Fairy Wrasse apart from other red/orange fairy wrasses like the Flame Fairy Wrasse or social wrasses at the store?
A true Magma Fairy Wrasse is identified by its intense “lava” red to orange-red body, usually with a cleaner, more saturated coloration than many similar wrasses, plus the characteristic fairy wrasse body shape: slim, fast, and laterally compressed. Males are the most vivid and may show stronger contrast in the fins and subtle blue/purple facial tones depending on lighting and stress level. Females and juveniles are much less dramatic and can be easy to confuse with other red-toned Cirrhilabrus species. The best clues are the overall body proportions, the fin shape, and whether the fish shows the typical fairy wrasse behavior of hovering in the water column and darting into rockwork at night. Since common names are inconsistent in the trade, it’s smart to ask for the scientific name from the seller if you want a true Magma Fairy Wrasse.
What tank size and aquascape does a Magma Fairy Wrasse need to feel secure and display natural behavior?
A Magma Fairy Wrasse does best in a tank of at least 75 gallons, though larger is better because this is an active, open-water swimmer. The tank should have a tight-fitting lid or mesh top because fairy wrasses are excellent jumpers. Aquascape should include plenty of live rock with caves, overhangs, and tight crevices, but also leave a substantial open swimming area in the middle and upper water column. They sleep in the rockwork and use it as shelter when startled, so the rock structure should create multiple escape routes rather than a single cave. A sandy bottom is ideal but not strictly required; what matters most is stable rockwork and plenty of space for display swimming.
What should I feed a Magma Fairy Wrasse to keep its color strong and its metabolism healthy?
This wrasse should be fed small, frequent meals of high-quality meaty foods. Excellent staples include enriched mysis shrimp, finely chopped krill, copepods, calanus, brine shrimp that have been properly enriched, and quality marine carnivore pellets. Fairy wrasses have fast metabolisms and do poorly if fed only once a day or given low-quality frozen foods. To maintain vivid red coloration, feed a varied diet rich in marine proteins and carotenoids, and avoid overreliance on fatty, low-nutrition feeder foods. In a mature reef tank, it will also pick at small crustaceans in the rockwork, but that should never be its only food source. Small feedings 2–3 times daily are ideal.
Is a Magma Fairy Wrasse reef-safe, and will it bother ornamental shrimp or small crustaceans?
In a typical reef aquarium, yes, it is generally considered reef-safe. It usually ignores corals, clams, and most sessile invertebrates. However, like many wrasses, it may eat very small ornamental crustaceans such as tiny shrimp, fragile amphipods, or newly settled microfauna if the opportunity is there, especially if underfed. It is usually compatible with cleaner shrimp, peppermints, and larger ornamental shrimp, but there is always some individual variation. It’s best viewed as a reef-safe predator of very small motile invertebrates rather than a completely harmless plankton feeder. Well-fed individuals are far less likely to sample tankmates.
Can I keep a Magma Fairy Wrasse with other wrasses or multiple fairy wrasses, and how do I manage aggression?
Yes, but selection and order matter a lot. Magma Fairy Wrasses can be kept with other peaceful to semi-aggressive wrasses if the tank is large enough and territories are broken up with rockwork. The safest approach is usually to add them to a tank with existing similarly sized, non-territorial species, or introduce them alongside other fairy wrasses at the same time. Avoid mixing with highly aggressive wrasses or species that occupy the exact same niche in a cramped tank, because males can become territorial toward similar-looking fairy wrasses, especially other colorful males. In bigger systems, multiple fairy wrasses often work well if there is plenty of swimming room, multiple hiding places, and no dominant bully already established. A good rule is: the larger the tank and the more complex the aquascape, the better the odds of peaceful long-term coexistence.
All listed sizes are approximate, not guaranteed, and may vary slightly.
The male Magma Fairy Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus shutmani, is a spectacular small saltwater fish distinguished by intense crimson, scarlet, and fiery red coloration. Mature males develop particularly saturated color across the head and body, with bright red dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins and a distinctive caudal fin featuring yellow coloration toward the base transitioning into rich red distally. During social or courtship displays, males can intensify their coloration further, creating an exceptional centerpiece for a refined reef aquarium.
Native to the northern Philippines, this species is known from the deep volcanic reef slopes surrounding Didicas Volcano in the Babuyan Islands. It occurs over steep rubble habitat at mesophotic depths, where fairy wrasses remain active above reef structure and feed primarily on small planktonic organisms carried through the water column.
Despite its small adult size, the Magma Fairy Wrasse is an energetic, continuously swimming marine aquarium fish that benefits from ample open water and secure rockwork. Its brilliant male coloration, peaceful temperament, and excellent coral compatibility make it particularly desirable for established reef aquariums.
Quick Care Guide
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Planktivore / Carnivore
Reef Safe: Yes
Region: Northern Philippines – Babuyan Islands
Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus shutmani
Tank Requirements
Provide a mature aquarium with abundant live rock for shelter combined with generous open swimming space. Caves, overhangs, and shaded retreats give the wrasse secure places to rest and retreat when startled, while open areas allow the active swimming behavior typical of Cirrhilabrus species.
A tightly fitted lid or fine mesh cover is essential. Fairy wrasses are accomplished jumpers and may launch from even small openings, particularly during acclimation, feeding, or interactions with tankmates.
Moderate water movement, strong oxygenation, and stable water quality are recommended. Because the Magma Fairy Wrasse naturally occurs on deeper reef slopes, subdued areas within the aquascape can help newly introduced specimens acclimate comfortably to aquarium lighting.
Diet and Feeding
The Magma Fairy Wrasse is primarily a planktivore that naturally feeds on small organisms suspended in the water column.
Offer a varied diet including mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, calanus, finely chopped marine seafood, and high-quality frozen plankton blends. Small marine pellets and appropriately sized flakes can also be incorporated once the fish is feeding confidently.
Two to three smaller feedings per day are preferable when practical. Foods that remain suspended briefly in the water column encourage natural feeding behavior and give this active wrasse repeated opportunities to feed.
Temperament and Tankmates
The male Magma Fairy Wrasse is generally peaceful toward unrelated marine fish and works well with appropriately sized reef community species such as gobies, blennies, anthias, cardinalfish, clownfish, peaceful tangs, and other non-aggressive wrasses.
Some territorial behavior may occur toward closely related fairy wrasses, particularly males with similar coloration or body shape. Introductions should be planned carefully when maintaining multiple Cirrhilabrus species.
A male can be maintained singly or as part of a carefully planned fairy wrasse community in a sufficiently spacious aquarium. Avoid aggressive tankmates that may continually chase or intimidate this relatively small species.
Reef Compatibility
The Magma Fairy Wrasse is considered reef safe. It does not normally nip at healthy stony corals, soft corals, zoanthids, clams, or other sessile reef organisms.
Established ornamental shrimp, crabs, and snails are generally compatible. Very small crustaceans and planktonic microfauna may naturally be consumed as part of its feeding behavior, but this does not normally present a concern in a mature reef aquarium.
Its small size, active swimming behavior, and lack of coral-feeding tendencies make it particularly well suited to coral-focused displays.
Water Parameters
Temperature: 75–79°F
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH
Stable temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels are more important than maintaining an exact value within these ranges.
Common Considerations
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Secure lid required: Fairy wrasses are exceptionally capable jumpers, and even small uncovered openings can result in escape.
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Male coloration: Mature males display the species' strongest crimson-red coloration and distinctive yellow-and-red tail.
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Deep-reef origin: Newly introduced specimens may appreciate sheltered or moderately shaded areas while adjusting to aquarium lighting.
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Frequent feeding: Several smaller meals of planktonic marine foods help maintain body condition and coloration.
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Wrasse compatibility: Use care when combining multiple male fairy wrasses, particularly closely related or similarly colored species.
