Labout’s Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus laboutei
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 3 - 4" - South Pacific | Original price was: $364.99.$191.99Current price is: $191.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 2 - 3" - South Pacific | Original price was: $243.99.$127.99Current price is: $127.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 4" or larger - Male - South Pacific | Original price was: $369.99.$193.99Current price is: $193.99. | Email me |
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Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Planktivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 70 gallons |
| Max Size | 5 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Labout’s Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus laboutei) is a reef safe fairy wrasse from the Southwestern Pacific, commonly associated with New Caledonia and nearby reef slopes. Adults show a pink-to-rose base color with violet striping and bright accent colors in the fins that can intensify during displays.
What You’ll Observe:
- Cruises the water column and weaves through rockwork, staying active through the day
- Takes small foods from the water column quickly once it recognizes a feeding routine
- Short “flashing” moments where fins extend and colors intensify, especially around other wrasses
- At night it typically wedges into a rock crevice to rest, reappearing with the lights
To do well long-term, provide plenty of live rock structure with open swimming lanes, and use a tight mesh screen top since fairy wrasses can launch upward when surprised. Offer a varied mix of small, meaty foods (like mysis, enriched brine, finely chopped seafood, and roe) 2–3 times daily. In mixed-wrasse tanks, adding it alongside other peaceful wrasses (or using an acclimation box) helps it settle in smoothly.
Does a Labout’s Fairy Wrasse need a sand bed to sleep?
Most Labout’s fairy wrasses rest by wedging into rock crevices at night rather than burying, so sand is optional for this species.
Why did the coloration look lighter at first and then get stronger later?
Color intensity often changes with comfort level and daily rhythms; consistent feeding and a stable routine usually bring out richer striping and fin colors over time.
What does “flashing” mean with this wrasse?
Flashing is a short display where the fish extends fins and intensifies color, often triggered by other wrasses nearby, courtship behavior, or the period near lights-out.
Can I keep more than one Labout’s Fairy Wrasse together?
Many hobbyists have success by introducing multiple individuals at the same time and providing plenty of swimming space and rockwork so social roles can form without constant contact.
What foods work best if it ignores flakes or pellets at first?
Frozen mysis, small roe, and live or bottled planktonic foods (like copepods) are common “starter” options, and many fish transition to pellets once they associate the tank with regular feeding.
We source from vetted suppliers known for healthy, long-lived specimens.
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