Description

• Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus temminckii
• Common Names: Temminck’s Fairy Wrasse, Threadfin Fairy Wrasse
• Maximum Length: 3.9 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 foraging habits.
• Reef Safety: Reef-safe; they do not harm corals or invertebrates, making them ideal for reef tanks.
• Temperament: Peaceful, though males may show aggression toward other male fairy wrasses. Best kept as a single male with multiple females or with non-aggressive tankmates like gobies or cardinalfish.
• Description: Temminck’s Fairy Wrasse is a stunning addition to marine tanks, prized for its vibrant hues. Males display a pinkish-red body with yellow streaks and blue-green fins, often with elongated dorsal rays, while females are paler pink. Native to the Western Pacific, from Indonesia to the Philippines, they inhabit reef slopes at 5-30 meters. Hobbyists note their shy acclimation, often hiding in live rock initially, but they become bold swimmers in mature tanks with ample hiding spots and strong water flow.

Fun Facts:

• Named after Coenraad Jacob Temminck, a 19th-century Dutch zoologist, for his contributions to Indo-Pacific fish taxonomy.
• Males flash their elongated dorsal rays in rapid pulses during courtship, creating a dazzling display under actinic lighting.
• In the wild, they hover in loose groups above reefs, synchronizing with currents to snatch zooplankton with pinpoint accuracy.