Description

• • Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis
  • Common Names: Blue-throated Fairy Wrasse, Blue-throat Fairy Wrasse
  • Maximum Length: 4 inches (10 cm)
  • Minimum Aquarium Size: 55 gallons (208 liters) for a single fish; 90 gallons (341 liters) or larger for a harem to support their active swimming and social dynamics.
  • Foods and Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on zooplankton and small invertebrates in the wild. In aquariums, offer frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, copepods, and high-quality marine pellets. Feed small amounts 2-3 times daily to mimic their natural foraging behavior.
  • Reef Safety: Reef-safe; they do not harm corals or invertebrates, making them an excellent choice for reef tanks.
  • Temperament: Peaceful, though males may display aggression toward other male fairy wrasses. Best kept as a single male with multiple females in a harem setup or with non-aggressive tankmates like gobies or cardinalfish.
  • Description: The Blue-throated Fairy Wrasse is a dazzling addition to marine tanks, prized for its vibrant colors. Males boast a bright red-orange body with a vivid blue throat and head, accented by green and yellow streaks, while females are paler with a pinkish hue. Native to the Western Pacific, primarily around Indonesia and the Philippines, they inhabit reef slopes at depths of 10-40 meters. Their active, darting movements and need for hiding spots make them ideal for mature reef tanks with live rock and open swimming space.

  Fun Facts:

  • Males can flash their blue throat in rapid pulses during courtship, a display that uses UV-reflective pigments invisible to humans but striking to other fish.
  • They often hover in mid-water to “inspect” passing fish, curiously approaching tankmates before retreating, a behavior that mimics wild predator checks.
  • This species was known to aquarium hobbyists for years before its official scientific description in 2018, a rare case of aquarists outpacing taxonomists.