An Alternative To A Cleaner Wrasse?

[karigupi]

I'm wondering if anyone could give any ideas on this one please, my son has his heart set on a cleaner wrasse (he is only 7yrs old) there is one in our LFS which darts around & around the central display tank, acting dizzy & my son just adores him.

When I talked to the children about closing some of the tanks they got a bit upset as some of their favorite fish were being rehomed & I had to promise them a fish each in the marine tank, my daughter is very easy to please & wants a peppermint shrimp or a crab, but my son wants the cleaner wrasse.

Just having a bit of a research on some of the fish we've shorlisted & it seems cleaner wrasse arent good for a home aquarium

Anyone with young children will understand that I need break this news to him gently & I thought it would be a good idea if I offer him with an alternative
when I tell him we cant have the cleaner wrasse.

So, here is my question, can you suggest a fish, either blue or green (he doesnt do girly colours lol) which is fairly active & good in a community?

 

[-Nemo-]

Any wrasse will have similar behaviors and are generally very active swimmers. Sixlines, flasher wrasses, fairy wrasses. All reef safe and very attractive and active fish. Have a look at some of them as there are dozens of different types. There's gotta be one that your son will like
Red Head Fairy (Cirrhilabrus solorensis), Scott's Fairy (Cirrhilabrus scottorum), and Exquisite fairy (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) are some of my favorites and have beautiful colors on them. Flashers tend to be more pink/orange/red in color.

 

[karigupi]

Thank you

I can see how this convo with him will go though, he'll say Flasher Wrasse cause he's a 7yr old boy & thinks the word flasher is funny lol, then he'll see they are pinks/orange/reds & say no too girlie, so i'll suggest the others & he'll give me a look & say 'mum, they're called Fairies, I dont want a fish named after a fairy'! lol

The sixline wrasse though, looks great, good colours & a cool enough name i'll go & read up on them.

thank you for your help