Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse

Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse Description

• Scientific name: Cirrhilabrus lubbocki

• Common name: Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse

• Appearance:

  • Males show purple, magenta, red, and orange with electric blue highlights

  • Females are smaller and less intense but still colorful

• Size: ~3 inches (7–8 cm)

• Origin: Western Pacific (Marshall Islands, Indonesia)

• Lifespan: 5–7 years with good care

Care Level

✅ Easy to Moderate
One of the hardiest fairy wrasses — great even for newer reef keepers.

Tank Requirements

Tank Size

• Minimum: 40 gallons

• Preferred: 55+ gallons

Tank Setup

• Open swimming space with rockwork for hiding

• TIGHT LID IS A MUST 🚨 (legendary jumpers)

Water Parameters

Standard reef conditions:

• Temperature: 75–80°F (24–27°C)

• Salinity: 1.024–1.026

• pH: 8.1–8.4

• Nitrates: <10–15 ppm

• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0

Lighting & Flow

• Lighting: Normal reef lighting

• Flow: Moderate to strong, random

Diet

🍤 Carnivore / Planktivore

Feed 2–3 times daily:

• Mysis shrimp

• Brine shrimp (enriched)

• Copepods

• High-quality pellets (small size)

They eat readily and aren’t picky once settled.

Temperament & Compatibility

• Peaceful to semi-aggressive

• Reef-safe with corals and inverts 🪸

• Can be kept:

  • Singly

  • As one male with multiple females

• May squabble with other fairy wrasses in smaller tanks

Special Notes

• Does not bury in sand

• Sleeps in rockwork, often forming a mucus cocoon

• Males will “flash” stunning colors when excited or displaying ✨

Signs of a Healthy Lubbock’s Wrasse

✅ Bright coloration
✅ Constant activity
✅ Strong feeding response
✅ Smooth fins and body

Warning Signs

🚩 Hiding excessively
🚩 Loss of color
🚩 Refusing food
🚩 Jumping behavior (stress or bullying)

Final Thoughts

Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse is a reef-safe, hardy, and insanely colorful fish that fits well in smaller tanks compared to many other fairy wrasses. A total classic.