Brunneus wrasse care tips

[joeman829]

Hello I recently bought a brunneus wrasse and was wondering if I could get some insight on the behavior and diet of these fish as I can’t find any care guides for this type of wrasse. Thanks!

 

[i cant think]

Hello I recently bought a brunneus wrasse and was wondering if I could get some insight on the behavior and diet of these fish as I can’t find any care guides for this type of wrasse. Thanks!

Cirrhilabrus is generally the same care all throughout with maybe 1-2 oddballs (Brunneus isn’t one of these to my knowledge).

Cirrhilabrus brunneus;

Common Name: Dusky Fairy Wrasse

Wild Diet: Zooplankton

Captive Diet: Algae sheets, Vitamin enriched Mysis/Brine, Amphipods/Copepods, Worms, Other Live Shrimp.

Max Size: 4 inches (13cm)

Temperament: Peaceful

 

[joeman829]

Cirrhilabrus is generally the same care all throughout with maybe 1-2 oddballs (Brunneus isn’t one of these to my knowledge).

Cirrhilabrus brunneus;

Common Name: Dusky Fairy Wrasse

Wild Diet: Zooplankton

Captive Diet: Algae sheets, Vitamin enriched Mysis/Brine, Amphipods/Copepods, Worms, Other Live Shrimp.

Max Size: 4 inches (13cm)

Temperament: Peaceful

Ok thank you I’m glad they are easy and have mine eating mystis

 

[i cant think]

Ok thank you I’m glad they are easy and have mine eating mystis

Cirrhilabrus is the easiest genus of wrasse out there in my opinion. They will eat anything and everything once they’re settled, mine even eat dry algae sheets whereas my Halichoeres don’t usually eat it.

 

[joeman829]

Cirrhilabrus is the easiest genus of wrasse out there in my opinion. They will eat anything and everything once they’re settled, mine even eat dry algae sheets whereas my Halichoeres don’t usually eat it.

Dry algae sheets really? My melanarus won’t touch it but used to eat it so it would be nice to see a wrasse eating algae off the clip agian

 

[Saltyanimals]

Mine finished QT without any issues at all. Constantly ate and continues to be one of bigger eaters in my 180 even amongst larger fish. It's a bolder species and fearless. I can put my hand in right next to it almost petting it.

It eats everything. I rotate between NLS, TDO, Reef Flakes and garlic flakes.

I have noticed that mine tends to be on the red side with barely any of the darker tones unlike the photos that I've seen. It's about 2.5inches. Not sure if mine is normal in coloration, but zero issues with diet or anything visible health wise.

What color is yours?

 

[i cant think]

Mine finished QT without any issues at all. Constantly ate and continues to be one of bigger eaters in my 180 even amongst larger fish. It's a bolder species and fearless. I can put my hand in right next to it almost petting it.

It eats everything. I rotate between NLS, TDO, Reef Flakes and garlic flakes.

I have noticed that mine tends to be on the red side with barely any of the darker tones unlike the photos that I've seen. It's about 2.5inches. Not sure if mine is normal in coloration, but zero issues with diet or anything visible health wise.

What color is yours?

Got a photo of yours?
It may be that at that size you have a transitional phase male.

 

[Saltyanimals]

almost faded looking at times.

 

[i cant think]

almost faded looking at times.

Looks to me like you have a young specimen that’s still transitioning. Females of C. brunneus are a beautiful red colouration, then once they start to transition they go into that blue phase. Usually looking a rather pale deep blue (almost grey in looks). Their fins seem to be the last thing to change colour (as with most transitioning wrasses). Your transitional-phase male seems to be close to finishing that transition phase. So you should have a full male rather soon (potentially in the next few months or even days).

 

[Saltyanimals]

Looks to me like you have a young specimen that’s still transitioning. Females of C. brunneus are a beautiful red colouration, then once they start to transition they go into that blue phase. Usually looking a rather pale deep blue (almost grey in looks). Their fins seem to be the last thing to change colour (as with most transitioning wrasses). Your transitional-phase male seems to be close to finishing that transition phase. So you should have a full male rather soon (potentially in the next few months or even days).

Thank you for confirming. I was assuming the transition and the darker is the male color, but other photos I've seen suggest a similar size as mine yet darker in color.

I added it along with 3 other cirrhilabrus at the same time. All females initially as far as I could tell and mixed according to the wrasse compatibility chart so they should all get along as they transition. The brunneus is the biggest of my cirrhilabrus batch. Crossing fingers, but so far so good with them all doing fine together in the 180. No aggression. The Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis is the most aggressive according to the chart in my batch, but peaceful so far. Time will tell.

Thanks again

 

[Saltyanimals]

Reporting back almost 1 year after the above photo. Ready? No change. =)

Didn't darken at all and still that goofy "is it red or is it not". Of course it's gotten bigger, but now dwarfed by the ruby red that was added at the same time. Now that sucker grew fat and plump. I guess my tank isn't ready for the dark-side just yet.

 

[Saltyanimals]

Someone pinged me offline and asked if my brunneus ever darkened up. Figured I would share: No. Another 6+ months from my post above, it looks the same. Still a light tan almost pink color with the only dark color is a small very light band along the sides where the spine should be. Looks just the same as my photo above from Oct 3, 2022 only bigger. It's a good 3 inches and fat from being well fed, but almost no color change still. It's "stuck" in the juvenile colors. lol. I was hoping and expecting to have that dark menacing looking fish that I've been in photos, but no luck. Mine is rather boring color-wise.

 

[MIKE NY]

I have mine a few months now and it’s about 2”. It’s still that dark juvi coloration, but it’s just starting to get a trace of the yellow belly that they’re known for.

 

[Saltyanimals]

I have mine a few months now and it’s about 2”. It’s still that dark juvi coloration, but it’s just starting to get a trace of the yellow belly that they’re known for.

I must have a defective brunneus. Damaged in shipping or something.

 

[Reef-Engineer]

I have two in QT right now.

 

[i cant think]

Someone pinged me offline and asked if my brunneus ever darkened up. Figured I would share: No. Another 6+ months from my post above, it looks the same. Still a light tan almost pink color with the only dark color is a small very light band along the sides where the spine should be. Looks just the same as my photo above from Oct 3, 2022 only bigger. It's a good 3 inches and fat from being well fed, but almost no color change still. It's "stuck" in the juvenile colors. lol. I was hoping and expecting to have that dark menacing looking fish that I've been in photos, but no luck. Mine is rather boring color-wise.

Has it coloured yet?
Also what other wrasses do you have with it?

 

[i cant think]

I have two in QT right now.

You’ll want to eventually rehome the other - they’re more peaceful species in general (especially with others in that complex) but they don’t like males of the same species.

 

[Reef-Engineer]

You’ll want to eventually rehome the other - they’re more peaceful species in general (especially with others in that complex) but they don’t like males of the same species.

yeah, for sure. I can already see some discontent. They were sold to me as "moyers leopard wrasses" and I didnt get a good look at them in the bag, but now that I know what they are I will be returning one or both (since I can only have so many wrases and want to stick to my target species).

Thanks!

 

[shawnriv]

I’m very curious if this fish is aggressive? I have an opportunity to acquire one, but my 120G tank already has a blue star leopard wrasse and a mystery wrasse. The one I can get is a male, but I’m hesitant due to sometimes wrasses can be jerks. Thanks!

 

[i cant think]

I’m very curious if this fish is aggressive? I have an opportunity to acquire one, but my 120G tank already has a blue star leopard wrasse and a mystery wrasse. The one I can get is a male, but I’m hesitant due to sometimes wrasses can be jerks. Thanks!

Nope! These guys are peaceful but your mystery will not like him. They occupy the same sleeping quarters and the Mystery is guaranteed to have claimed it all already.