Exquisite Wrasse (Medium)
Transform Your Tank with Living Color Like No Other
Looking for a true centerpiece specimen... The Exquisite Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) is one of the most visually striking members of the fairy wrasse family, displaying an ever-shifting palette of greens, pinks, reds, and electric blues that intensify dramatically when males display. Found across the Indo-Pacific, this species is not a staple at your average retailer — when available, it moves fast. Its iridescent pattern shifts with angle and light, making it a living work of art in any well-lit reef tank.
At the medium size range (approximately 2–3 inches), this specimen is past the fragile juvenile stage and settling confidently into its adult coloration and personality. Exquisite Wrasses are active, curious, and largely peaceful — a genuinely rewarding addition for aquarists who appreciate intelligent, expressive marine life. They patrol mid-water with purpose and energy, bringing constant movement to a saltwater aquarium without disrupting their tankmates.
QUICK STATS & CARE GUIDE
-
Common Name: Exquisite Wrasse / Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
-
Current Size: Medium (approx. 2–3 inches)
-
Care Level: Moderate
-
Temperament: Peaceful; males may display toward similarly shaped species
-
Diet: Carnivore — readily accepts frozen mysis, copepods, and high-quality marine pellets
-
Reef Safe: Yes
-
Water Conditions: 72–78°F | Salinity 1.020–1.025 | pH 8.1–8.4 | dKH 8–12
WHY BUY FROM THE CORAL BOUTIQUE?
Every specimen at The Coral Boutique is ethically sourced, fully quarantined, and conditioned in our systems until it is actively feeding and thriving — never shipped on arrival. When your order leaves Miami, it's ready for your home aquarium from day one.
Photo: Rickard Zerpe, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons