About Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse
Red velvet fairy wrasse — deep ruby coloration with iridescent scales. Peaceful, beautifully behaved, and jumper-prone (lid required). Pairs and harems work in larger reef tanks with established territories.
The rosy-scales fairy-wrasse, also known as the red velvet fairy wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. It is found at mesophotic reefs at depths between 41 and 70 m (135–230 ft).
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Deep ruby-red body with iridescent scaling that shifts color with lighting angle. Males develop more intense red and elongated fins. A relatively recent introduction to the hobby and a high-value collector wrasse.
In your tank. Peaceful, active mid-water swimmer. Compatible with most reef inhabitants except other fairy wrasses (territorial). Jumper — a tight-fitting lid is non-negotiable.
Care notes. Add to an established tank with stable parameters. Females less common than males in the trade; harems require advance planning. Reef-safe.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from the Chagos Archipelago and Maldives. Premium-priced ($150–400+). Carnivore — frozen mysis, brine, small pellets, multiple feedings per day.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 218952).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: GavinMorley · CC0 (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).