Pintail fairy Wrasse lifespan

150 Gallon Reef · May 29, 2020

I am interested in purchasing a female pintail wrasse from a local reefer this weekend. It has been in his system for 2 years now and is obviously very healthy. Question, is it worth getting a fish that has been in a system for 2 years already or has it already had a significant chunk of its life spent and maybe not much longer to live? I'm not sure how long wrasses lifespans are in captivity which is why I ask. Thank you for your help

HairyGary · May 29, 2020

150 Gallon Reef said:
I am interested in purchasing a female pintail wrasse from a local reefer this weekend. It has been in his system for 2 years now and is obviously very healthy. Question, is it worth getting a fish that has been in a system for 2 years already or has it already had a significant chunk of its life spent and maybe not much longer to live? I'm not sure how long wrasses lifespans are in captivity which is why I ask. Thank you for your help

Cirrhilabrus wrasse lifespan is roughly 5-6 yrs from my understanding but its hard to pin down. I'll let Hunter @evolved chime in.

The question becomes how old was wrasse before the local reefer purchased it. If the wrasse is healthy and you will be putting it in a healthy system, I would enjoy it for as long as you can. Its a beautiful wrasse and even more so if it transitions for you to male. Good luck.

Zionas · May 29, 2020

Good luck OP, but as far as I know Fairy and Flasher Wrasses aren’t a very long-lived fish.

lakai · May 29, 2020

8 months before it jumped out for the second time

evolved · May 29, 2020

HairyGary said:
Cirrhilabrus wrasse lifespan is roughly 5-6 yrs from my understanding but its hard to pin down. I'll let Hunter @evolved chime in.

The question becomes how old was wrasse before the local reefer purchased it. If the wrasse is healthy and you will be putting it in a healthy system, I would enjoy it for as long as you can. Its a beautiful wrasse and even more so if it transitions for you to male. Good luck.

I fully agree here.

If it was not yet full grown when they got it, you'd probably have a couple years left with the fish.