Flame Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)

Flame Fairy Wrasse Cirrhilabrus jordani
Name	Flame Fairy Wrasse
Name Lat.	Cirrhilabrus jordani
Family	Wrasses
Family lat.	Labridae
Order	Wrasses & Relatives
Order lat.	Labriformes
Origin	Central Pacific, Hawaiian Islands
Habitat	Seaward reefs
Diet	Planktivore
pH	8,1-8,4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Pair, group
Reef Compatible	Yes
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	N/A
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	12 cm
Temperature	24-28 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 400 l
US Units
Size	4"
Temperature	75-82 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 100 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of Cirrhilabrus jordani is around Hawaii and Johnston Atoll in the Central Pacific. They live predominantly in groups mostly on steeply sloping outer reefs at depths of 5-30 m, sometimes to over 100 m.

Maintenance

They require a well-structured aquarium with plenty of swimming space and a reef structure (hiding, resting and retreat possibilities) with living stones that act like a biological filter as well as a substrate of sand or fine gravel. Only substrates rich in lime and free of heavy metals may be used as substrate.

Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must match the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l	nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.

Diet

In nature they feed mainly on zooplankton. The feed changeover does not always succeed without problems. The food supply for these slow eaters should consist of a commercially available, vitamin-enriched, frozen special food mix for plankton eaters or a combination of chopped shrimp and crab meat with live and frozen foods, such as mysis, krill, bosmids, cyclops and Artemia. High quality flake and granulated foods are also often accepted after a period of acclimation

It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day (3-5 times). This also reduces intra-species aggression. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

The young fish, mostly females, are peaceful among themselves and can be kept without problems. With the sex change to male the aggression increases. They should be kept in pairs or in a group of at least 5 animals. Several animals can be socialized well, if they are put into the aquarium at the same time. They behave peacefully towards other fish.

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning most males develop from functional females. The males have a bright yellow body with red fins. The females are less intensely  colored.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium

Important

Especially during acclimation they jump frequently, so make sure the aquarium is well covered

They can be kept very well in a reef aquarium with corals and invertebrates and should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium.

If different species are kept together, care should be taken to match the fish in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and to ensure that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: KUITER, DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; BAENSCH & DEBELIUS (2006): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF