Solar Fairy Wrasse - Medium
This is a colourful fish with a bright yellow to orange head and blue and white body. Its dorsal fin's edge is red, then there is a dark blue line below the Dorsal fin fading to a lighter blue with a white belly.
The Solar Fairy Wrasse's body can be a variety of colours. Its face colour is yellow or light orange and its head is a shade of orange or red. They have bright red eyes, which are often referred to in the common names for them. There are blue scales beneath the dorsal fin, with the scales turning green down the body to its white belly.
Males tend to be more colourful than females. Fairy Wrasses are usually found around coral and rubble areas, from the coast to outer reefs.
Their native habitat is the Indo-Pacific region, around Indonesia and Christmas Island.
Tank Recommendations for Solar Fairy Wrasse
The smallest tank size is at least 340 litres for these wrasses.
A Solar Fairy Wrasse needs a tank that is in a shaded area, away from any bright lights. There should be open space for swimming and plenty of hiding places for them to shelter.
Wrasse can jump out of the tank when startled, so a ensure you have a cover on your tank.
Suitable Tank Buddies
These peaceful wrasses aren't difficult to find compatible tank mates for, ensure that they aren't going to get eaten and they will be fine.
Usually Compatible
Solar Fairy Wrasse have a peaceful temperament and aren’t usually aggressive to other fish. Suitable tank buddies include Large Angels, Boxfish, Damselfish, Clownfish and Tangs/Surgeons.
Sometime Compatible
It’s not recommended to put 2 males together. A suitable co-habiting group should have 1 male, with several females and juveniles.
Take care when housing Solar Fairy Wrasse with Frogs/Anglerfish, Eels, Groupers, Grunts/Sweetlips, Lions/Scorpionfish, Parrotfish, Pseudochromis, Squirrelfish and Triggerfish.
Rarely Compatible
Avoid Seahorses/Pipefish, and Sharks or Rays.
Feeding Your Solar Fairy Wrasse
The Solar Fairy Wrasse is carnivorous, they eat a variety of meaty foods, including chopped meats, live shrimp, foraminiferans, amphipods, and worms.
They can also be described as planktivores as they can survive on a diet of mostly plankton. If there is live rock in the aquarium they will feed on any attached copepods. Flake food and pellets can be occasionally offered.
| Scientific Name | Cirrhilabrus Solorensis |
|---|---|
| Care Level | Easy |
| Common Names | Solar Fairy Wrasse, Solor Fairy Wrasse, Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse, Clown Fairy Wrasse, Redheaded Fairy Wrasse, Red-eyed Fairy Wrasse or Red-eyed and Tricolour Fairy Wrasse. |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Fish Family | Labridae |
| Lifespan (years) | 10 |
| Max. Length (cm) | 12 |
| Min. Tank Volume (l) | 340 |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific region, around Indonesia and Christmas Island. |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Sociability | Peaceful |
| Venomous | No |
| Water Conditions | 22-26 C (72-78° F) dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025 |