Breeding the Lined Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lineatus)

Cirrhilabrus lineatus is a deep-reef fairy wrasse from New Caledonia and Australia in which females change into males. Its pelagic larvae keep it out of home breeding; this guide explains its biology.

Overview

Cirrhilabrus lineatus (Randall & Lubbock, 1982), also called the lavender wrasse, is native to the coral reefs of New Caledonia and Australia, where it occurs at depths of 20 to 55 m and reaches about 12 cm total length. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It shares the genus-wide biology of zooplankton feeding, harem living and protogyny that governs its reproduction.

Sexing

C. lineatus displays hermaphroditic behaviour in which a female may become a male when biologically favourable, and Wikipedia notes this generally happens when competition from larger males disappears. The terminal male is the largest, most intensely coloured fish, with the longer fins typical of mature fairy wrasse males, while females are smaller and less vivid. Sex is therefore set by social rank rather than fixed at hatching.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Reproduction matches the fairy-wrasse pattern of a dominant male courting a harem of females. The male performs a 'flashing' display, briefly showing metallic blue or violet markings that are not present at rest, both to deter rival males and to attract females ready to spawn. Spawning consists of a short paired ascent into open water during which buoyant eggs and sperm are released together; the species' deeper habitat means this typically occurs below depths most aquarists encounter.

Egg & Fry Care

As a broadcast spawner, C. lineatus produces small buoyant eggs that hatch into planktonic larvae, with no nest building or parental care. The larvae feed and drift in open water through an extended pelagic phase. This life history makes home larval rearing impractical, and captive breeding of the lined fairy wrasse has not been documented.

Common Challenges

The decisive obstacle is the planktonic larval phase, not eliciting a spawn. Because the species comes from deeper reefs, conditioning adults also means accounting for their natural depth and a diet centred on small zooplankton, supplied in a system with ample open swimming space.