Magma Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus Shutmani)

Species Name : Cirrhilabrus Shutmani

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Peaceful

Diet : Carnivore

Color : Red 

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : up to 2.36" (6 cm) 

Origin : Philippines

Family : Labridae

Minimum Tank Size : 75 gallons

Cirrhilabrus Shutmani, also known as the Magma Fairy Wrasse, was discovered by RVS Fishworld in 2016 living around the Didicas Volcano in the Babuyan Islands of the Philippines.  

Named in honor of Barnett Paul Shutman, RVS Fishworld, a tropical-fish exporter in the Philippines, who provided holotype, paratypes and photos of the species.    

The magma wrasse belongs to the family of 'Labridae', a colourful species of tropical and subtropical fish.

This newfound wrasse is a gorgeous red overall, with a splash of yellow at the base of the tail, and an anal fin which is even deeper crimson in the anal fin. There’s a hint of a black spot on the head right before the dorsal fin, but otherwise this Cirrhilabrus is about as red as a reef fish can get. Males and females are usually sexually dichromatic and live in small harems comprising a dominant male and a small group of females. 

Like many other fairy wrasses Cirrhilabrus Shutmani likes fairly open rubble slopes where juveniles and females can find plenty of places to hide. This Wrasse prefers to be added to well established aquariums with a sandy substrate and lots of rockwork. Wrasse are considered jumpers make sure your aquarium has a tight-fitting canopy or screen cover to prevent the Wrasse from jumping out of your aquarium.

This is an active species that generally coexists well with other peaceful species. It may be aggressive with other wrasses. 

The Magma Fairy Wrasse, like other wrasses, have a hermaphroditic sexual nature, being able to change from a female to male, or vice versa, for reproductive purposes.

The Cirrhilabrus Shutmani diet should include vitamin enriched frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods along with a high quality marine flake and marine pellet food. Feeding them multiple times a day is recommended as they are very active and keeping them full will help keep them away from desirable inverts.