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The Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse is a beautiful and active marine fish admired for its vibrant colouration, peaceful temperament, and suitability for reef aquariums. Scientifically known as Cirrhilabrus lubbocki, this small fairy wrasse is native to the tropical waters of the Philippines and Indonesia, where it is commonly found around outer reef areas, coral rubble, and branching corals.
Males are particularly striking, displaying combinations of red, purple, blue, orange, and yellow, while females and juveniles generally have more subdued colouration. Their active swimming behaviour and peaceful nature make them an excellent choice for established community reef aquariums.
Common Name: Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse
Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus lubbocki
Family: Labridae
Origin: Philippines and Indonesia
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Minimum Tank Size: 150 litres
Adult Size: Up to 8 cm
Lifespan: Approximately 4–8 years
Reef Compatible: Yes
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasses have a slender, streamlined body and relatively small size compared with many other marine wrasses. Their colouration can vary depending on sex, age, collection location, and breeding condition.
Males are typically the most colourful, with a red head and body combined with purple-blue markings and orange to yellow coloration across the upper back. The fins may also display bright yellow, red, blue, or purple tones.
Females and juveniles generally have less intense colouration, although they can still be very attractive additions to a marine aquarium. The species reaches approximately 8 cm in length.
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasses are generally peaceful and active fish that spend much of their time swimming through the middle and upper areas of the aquarium. They are well suited to peaceful community reef systems and can be kept with a variety of similarly peaceful marine fish.
They can be kept individually, as a male and female pair, or as a small group when the aquarium is appropriately sized. Fairy wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning individuals begin life as females and may later change sex to become males.
Suitable tank mates include:
Avoid keeping them with:
A mature marine aquarium with plenty of live rock, caves, crevices, and open swimming space provides an excellent environment for Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasses. In the wild, they are associated with reef environments where they actively search for small planktonic food items.
Provide plenty of rockwork so the fish has secure areas to retreat to when startled or resting. Good water movement and efficient filtration are also important for maintaining the high water quality required by reef aquariums.
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasses are excellent jumpers, so a tight-fitting aquarium lid or suitably secured mesh cover is strongly recommended.
Unlike many sand-burying wrasses, Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse does not require a deep sand bed for sleeping. It will generally shelter within the rockwork or other suitable cover when resting.
Temperature: 24–27°C
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.0–8.4
KH: 8–12 dKH
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: Ideally below 10–20 ppm
Maintaining stable salinity, temperature, and excellent water quality is essential for long-term health and vibrant colouration.
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasses are carnivorous planktivores that naturally feed on small crustaceans and other zooplankton. In captivity they readily accept a variety of meaty marine foods.
Recommended foods include:
Feed small portions once or twice daily. Newly introduced specimens may benefit from smaller, more frequent meals while they settle into the aquarium.
A varied, protein-rich diet will help maintain healthy growth, energy levels, and vibrant colouration.
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasses are active, curious, and constantly on the move. They spend much of their time swimming through the open water above the rockwork while searching for small food items.
They are generally peaceful and make excellent additions to community reef aquariums. Newly introduced specimens may initially hide within the rockwork while they acclimate to their new surroundings.
Males can display their colours and fins when courting or establishing dominance. In a group, one dominant male may maintain a territory while females remain nearby.
These wrasses are also accomplished jumpers, particularly when frightened or chased, making a secure aquarium cover one of the most important pieces of equipment when keeping this species.
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning individuals begin life as females and can later transform into males. If a dominant male is absent, the largest or most dominant female may change sex and develop male coloration and behaviour.
Breeding in home aquariums is uncommon and generally requires specialised marine breeding techniques. Like other fairy wrasses, spawning occurs in the water column, with eggs and sperm released into open water.
Successful raising of the resulting larvae is challenging and requires specialised food cultures and dedicated marine fish-rearing equipment.
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasses are considered reef safe and are generally compatible with corals and most ornamental invertebrates.
They spend their time in the water column rather than deliberately picking at corals, making them an excellent choice for reef aquariums.
As with any predatory fish, very small ornamental crustaceans or newly introduced tiny invertebrates may occasionally be at risk, so caution should be used when keeping particularly small shrimp or other delicate livestock.
Provide Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasses with a mature marine aquarium containing plenty of live rock, caves, crevices, and open swimming space. Maintain stable salinity, temperature, and water quality, and offer a varied diet of high-quality marine foods.
Always use a secure lid or mesh cover, as these wrasses are capable jumpers. Introduce them to peaceful tank mates and avoid housing them with aggressive or highly territorial species.
When keeping more than one Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse, provide sufficient space and rockwork to allow individuals to establish territories and retreat from one another when necessary. A single specimen is the safest option for smaller aquariums, while a compatible group can be considered for larger, well-structured systems.
With proper care, Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse can become a colourful, active, and engaging feature fish in a thriving marine aquarium.
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