Blue-Sided Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura)
The Blue-Sided Wrasse is a stunning fairy wrasse admired for its brilliant blend of electric blue, vibrant red, orange, and yellow coloration. Males develop especially intense colors, with iridescent blue flanks and striking finnage that become even more vivid during display and courtship. Constantly active yet peaceful, the Blue-Sided Wrasse brings exceptional beauty and movement to reef aquariums, making it a favorite among saltwater enthusiasts.
Native to the Indo-Pacific, the Blue-Sided Wrasse inhabits coral-rich reef slopes and lagoons where it spends its days swimming above the reef in search of tiny crustaceans and zooplankton. In the home aquarium, it thrives in a mature reef system with plenty of live rock, caves for shelter, and open swimming areas. Like other fairy wrasses, it appreciates excellent water quality and should always be housed in an aquarium with a tight-fitting lid, as it is capable of jumping when startled.
Blue-Sided Wrasses are carnivores and readily accept a varied diet of mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, copepods, and high-quality marine pellets or flakes. Multiple small feedings throughout the day help maintain their vibrant coloration and active lifestyle.
Their peaceful temperament makes them excellent additions to reef communities alongside clownfish, gobies, blennies, cardinalfish, anthias, tangs, and other non-aggressive wrasses. They are considered reef safe and do not bother corals or ornamental invertebrates, making them an outstanding choice for mixed reef aquariums.
Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura
Common Name: Blue-Sided Wrasse
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Adult Size: Up to 5 Inches
Minimum Tank Size: 70 Gallons
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Reef Safe: Yes
If you're looking for a colorful, active, and reef-safe fish, the Blue-Sided Wrasse is an exceptional choice. Its dazzling blue coloration, graceful swimming behavior, and peaceful personality make it a spectacular centerpiece for established marine reef aquariums.
