Social Fairy Wrasse

About

The Socia fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis) is a small, active reef fish endemic to the Red Sea, where it spends its days hovering and darting above fringing reef flats and rubble zones, picking zooplankton from the water column. Males display rich reds and pinks along the ventral surface. A color pattern that makes them easy to distinguish from the more muted females. This species sits within a complex alongside Cirrhilabrus rubeus and C. africanus, so wild-caught specimens occasionally get muddled in the trade, but the Red Sea origin is a reliable identifier. In the aquarium, the Socia fairy wrasse is a fairly forgiving choice for intermediate keepers who already have some reef experience. It does best with plenty of open water to cruise through, and a well-fitted lid is strongly recommended. Like most wrasses, it is a confident jumper. A peaceful community of similarly sized, non-aggressive tankmates suits it well, and it generally ignores corals and ornamental invertebrates, making it a practical fit for a reef setup. A varied diet of small meaty foods replicates its natural zooplankton-feeding habits and keeps these fish in good condition over their multi-year lifespan.