Scott’s Fairy Wrasse

The Scott’s Fairy Wrasse, *Cirrhilabrus scottorum*, is a vibrant and active addition to the reef aquarium. Males display stunning coloration, typically featuring a mix of blues, greens, and reds, often with intricate patterns and elongated fins, particularly during courtship displays. Females are generally more subdued in color. This species is known for its peaceful temperament and constant activity, darting among the rockwork and corals.

A minimum tank size of 75 gallons is recommended for the Scott’s Fairy Wrasse to provide ample swimming space and a stable environment. A well-established reef aquarium with plenty of live rock for hiding and foraging is ideal. They are generally compatible with a wide range of peaceful marine fish and invertebrates. While they do not host in anemones, they will appreciate a sandy substrate to bury themselves in at night or when startled.

In the aquarium, the Scott’s Fairy Wrasse will readily accept a varied diet of high-quality marine flake food, pellet food, frozen mysis shrimp, and enriched brine shrimp. Offering multiple small feedings throughout the day is beneficial due to their active nature. They typically reach a maximum size of around 4-5 inches in captivity. Like other wrasses, they are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they are born female and can change to male later in life.