Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse

The Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis) is a beautifully colored reef wrasse distinguished by the brilliant red fins of mature males and its graceful, active swimming behavior. Males develop enlarged dorsal and anal fins that become intensely red during displays, along with red pelvic fins bearing elongated filaments. Their colorful finnage and constantly changing display intensity make this species especially attractive in a well-lit reef aquarium.

Native to the Western Central Pacific, the Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse is found around the Philippines and Indonesia. It naturally inhabits rubble areas and low patch reefs exposed to current, where individuals swim above the reef and capture zooplankton from the water column. In the wild, they may occur in small social groups dominated by a single male.

Reaching approximately 3.5–4 inches as an adult, this species is an excellent choice for established reef aquariums. Its peaceful temperament, modest adult size, active planktivorous behavior, and excellent coral compatibility make it well suited to community marine aquariums containing other peaceful to moderately assertive fish.

Quick Care Guide

Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Planktivore / Carnivore
Reef Safe: Yes
Region: Western Central Pacific – Philippines and Indonesia
Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis

Tank Requirements

Provide an established aquarium with substantial open swimming space combined with rockwork for shelter. The Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse is an active midwater swimmer and benefits from unobstructed areas where it can cruise and feed throughout the day.

Rockwork should include caves, overhangs, and crevices where the fish can retreat when frightened and shelter at night. Unlike sand-burying wrasses, fairy wrasses do not require a deep sand bed and normally sleep within reef structure.

Moderate to strong water movement and good oxygenation are appropriate, reflecting the current-exposed rubble and patch reef environments this species naturally inhabits.

A tightly secured aquarium lid or fine mesh cover is essential. Fairy wrasses are excellent jumpers and can escape through surprisingly small openings, particularly when newly introduced, startled, or chased.

Diet and Feeding

The Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse is primarily a planktivorous carnivore that naturally feeds on zooplankton suspended in the water column.

Offer a varied diet of mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, cyclops, finely chopped krill, and quality frozen marine blends. Appropriately sized marine pellets and flakes can also be incorporated once readily accepted.

Two to three small meals per day are ideal for this active species. Foods that remain suspended briefly in the water column encourage natural feeding behavior.

A mature reef aquarium containing copepods and other microfauna provides useful supplemental feeding opportunities but should not replace regular prepared meals.

Temperament and Tankmates

The Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse is generally peaceful toward unrelated marine fish and works well in community reef aquariums.

Suitable tankmates include gobies, blennies, clownfish, cardinalfish, anthias, flasher wrasses, peaceful dwarf angelfish, and many other fairy wrasses. Avoid highly aggressive fish that may continually chase it or interfere with feeding.

Mature males can become territorial toward other male fairy wrasses, particularly closely related or similarly colored species. Multiple fairy wrasses are most successfully maintained in larger aquariums with abundant hiding areas and carefully selected species.

This species naturally occurs in small groups with a dominant male, and compatible females may be maintained with a male when adequate swimming space and shelter are available.

Reef Compatibility

Reef Safe: Yes.

The Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse is highly suitable for reef aquariums and does not normally consume healthy coral tissue. SPS corals, LPS corals, soft corals, zoanthids, and clams are generally safe.

Established ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, and other common reef invertebrates are also typically ignored. Tiny planktonic crustaceans such as copepods are natural prey and will be consumed.

Its small adult size and midwater feeding behavior make it unlikely to disturb coral frags, redistribute substrate, or rearrange aquascaping.

Water Parameters

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

Maintain stable water chemistry and good oxygenation. Consistency in temperature, salinity, and pH is more important than maintaining one exact value within these ranges.

Common Considerations

• Mature males develop brilliant red dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins that intensify during displays.

• A tightly secured aquarium lid is essential because fairy wrasses are highly capable jumpers.

• Benefits from two to three small daily feedings of appropriately sized planktonic and meaty foods.

• Males may become territorial toward similar fairy wrasses despite being peaceful toward most unrelated tankmates.

• Does not require a sand bed for sleeping and normally retreats into rockwork at night.