Redfin fairy wrasse

The redfin fairy wrasse is a small, brilliantly coloured reef fish from the western Pacific, particularly the Philippines, where it inhabits rubble zones and outer reef slopes. Males show a magenta-to-red body with contrasting red fins and intensify their colours during courtship display, while females are more subdued. Reaching about 8-9 cm, it is a peaceful, active mid-water planktivore that spends the day picking zooplankton from the current and should be fed several small meals of mysis, enriched brine shrimp and quality frozen or prepared marine foods. It is reef-safe and an excellent community fish, best kept singly or as one male with several females; multiple males may quarrel. Provide plenty of open swimming space, live rock for shelter, and a tightly fitting lid, as fairy wrasses are notorious jumpers. Stable, warm, fully marine water with normal reef salinity is essential.