Blue Sided Fairy Wrasse (Asia Pacific)
Wrasses are prone to jumping from the aquarium when startled or excited so we recommend a secure lid. They feel most secure when there is plenty of live rock to hide in, as well as open space for swimming. Most species may be kept in pairs or harems as long as they are added together or females first. They do not appreciate living with other species of wrasse, so any aquarium with several species must be large enough and the most peaceful species added first.
They should be fed two to three times a day plenty of high quality meaty items, frozen Mysis shrimp, krill, chopped seafood, marine algae and Spirulina.
Fairy wrasses are easy to keep and have active personalities. They are safe with most invertebrates except small shrimp and crabs. They do not bother corals or anemones. They may bully smaller fish such as flasher wrasses, however most are not big enough to live with large or very aggressive fish, either. Most species can be kept together in systems at least 100 gallons, with the most peaceful species added first.
At night time fairy wrasses hide in the rockwork and wrap themselves in a mucus cocoon to hide their scent from predators. This cocoon may be visible in the morning, and will soon dissipate into the water, and a new cocoon created each night.
A rainbow of colors decorates the flanks of the male Blue Sided Fairy; warm shades of hot pink and yellow intermingle, and each scale has a dark contrasting edge. Terminal males have a rhomboid shaped tail. Both males and females have olive colored hoods, but female's flanks are more subdued shades of warm rose. Females also have numerous tiny white speckles on their backs and a black eyespot at the base of the tail. This species is normally very peaceful; it grows up to 5 inches and needs an aquarium of at least 70 gallons.
