Pyle's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus pylei)

Pyle's Fairy Wrasse Cirrhilabrus pylei
Name	Pyle's Fairy Wrasse
Name Lat.	Cirrhilabrus pylei
Family	Wrasses
Family lat.	Labridae
Order	Wrasses & Relatives
Order lat.	Labriformes
Origin	Pacific
Habitat	Coral 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	9 cm
Temperature	22-28 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 350 l
US Units
Size	3"
Temperature	72-82 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 90 gal

Distribution and habitat

The range of Cirrhilabrus pylei is the western and central Pacific from the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu and Samoa. They live on steeply sloping reef walls over rubble and coral at depths of 50-80 m.

Maintenance

They require a well-structured reef aquarium (rock and stone structures) with caves, shelters, gravel or sand bottom and with live stones that act like a biological filter as well as sufficient swimming space. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates 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 change usually succeeds 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 fry, mostly females, are peaceful among themselves and can be kept without problems. They should be kept in pairs or in a group of 4-5 animals. To avoid turf wars, they should be introduced into the aquarium at the same time. With the sex change to male the aggression increases. Towards other fish they usually behave peacefully.

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning most males develop from functional females when needed. Males have a blue caudal fin margin

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.

Important

They are sensitive during transport and acclimation in the aquarium

Their coloration is very variable. Since they occasionally jump, it is necessary to ensure good coverage of the aquarium

They do 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; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF