Australian Labout's Fairy Wrasse - Cirrhilabrus laboutei

Australian Labout’s Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus laboutei)

The Australian Labout’s Fairy Wrasse is a premium reef-safe marine wrasse, prized for its stunning mix of red, pink, yellow, purple and blue markings. Mature males are especially impressive, often showing a bold patterned body, bright facial detail and intense colour when displaying. This species is generally peaceful, active and highly desirable for mature reef aquariums, but like most fairy wrasses, it needs a secure lid, regular feeding and carefully chosen tank mates.

Common Name:
Australian Labout’s Fairy Wrasse. Also commonly referred to as Laboute’s Fairy Wrasse, Labout’s Wrasse, Laboute’s Wrasse or Labouti Fairy Wrasse.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Cirrhilabrus laboutei

Maximum Size:
Around 10–12 cm, with males usually becoming larger and more colourful than females.

Water Type:
Marine.

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Found in the south-western Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands and Vanuatu. Australian specimens are associated with reef slopes, coral, rock and rubble areas, usually at depths of around 7–55 metres. In the wild, fairy wrasses are active planktivores that spend much of their time swimming above reef structure and feeding in the water column.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: 1.020–1.025 SG

Temperament:
Generally peaceful. It is usually suitable for mixed reef aquariums with other calm to moderately active marine fish. Avoid housing with aggressive wrasses, large predators, very territorial damsels or fish that may bully it during feeding.

Diet:
Carnivorous planktivore. It should be offered a varied diet including frozen mysis, enriched brineshrimp, copepods, cyclops, finely chopped krill, plankton-based foods and high-quality marine pellets or flakes once accepted. Small feeds several times per day are ideal, as fairy wrasses are active fish with a naturally frequent feeding style.

Minimum Tank Size:
A practical recommendation is at least 250–300 litres for a single specimen, with larger aquariums preferred for harems, multiple wrasses or busy reef communities.

Behaviour & Activity:
This is an active mid-water reef wrasse that spends much of the day swimming in open areas above and around live rock. Males may display bright colour and flashing behaviour, especially when settled or kept with females. Like other fairy wrasses, it is an excellent jumper, so a tight-fitting mesh lid is essential.

Reef Safe:
Reef Safe
This species is generally considered safe with corals and most ornamental invertebrates. It does not normally nip corals, but very tiny crustaceans and natural microfauna may be eaten as part of its normal feeding behaviour.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature marine aquarium with stable water quality, strong oxygenation, live rock, open swimming space and peaceful tank mates. A secure lid is essential, as fairy wrasses are known jumpers. Avoid mixing multiple male fairy wrasses in smaller aquariums unless the keeper has experience with wrasse compatibility. Australian specimens are often highly valued due to their strong colour and collection quality, so careful acclimation and quarantine are recommended.

Suitable for:
Intermediate marine fishkeepers

Availability:
Rare / occasional in trade

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.