What's new

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Pet of the Month Starts Now!
FishForums.net Pet of the Month
🐶 Click here to enter! 🐰

ALW

What works for one may not work for another!
Joined
Apr 8, 2008
Messages
2,149
Reaction score
3
Location
Leeds, UK
cleanerwrasse.png


Common Name: Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Common Cleaner Wrasse)
Latin Name: Labroides dimidiatus
Family: Labridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Natural Range: Indo-Pacific
Minimum Tank Size: 30g (114l)
pH: 8.1-8.4
Sg: 1.020-1.025
Temperature: 22°c-26°c
Feeding: Difficult to feed. A large community is required for long term survival. May accept meaty foods that will fit in its small mouth, including mysid, brine shrimp and black worms. Some individual may be weaned onto flake foods but it is still unknown if this can achieve the needs of the wrasse. Is know to take small bites of nori.
Reef Safe: Yes (Some individuals may pick at Tridacnid clams)
Care Notes: One of a number of fish that belong in a small group. The cleaner wrasse exists by grooming other fish for mucus, parasites and dead tissue off larger fishes' skin in a mutualistic relationship that provides food and protection for the wrasse, and considerable health benefits for the other fish. Although considered to be the most durable of the group this fish still has a poor survival rate in captivity. With most living for only a matter of weeks. A few people seem to have weaned the cleaner wrasse to take more suitable foods that include brine shrimp and flake. It is still to be seen if this can sustain and fulfill the dietary need of the cleaner wrasse. Once acclimatized to aquarium life the Bluestreak Cleaner wrasse makes for an interesting display, with the fish dancing to impress other tanks makes to allow the wrasse to perform its cleaning duties. In general, most aquarist are advised to avoid the cleaner wrasse both because of its poor rate of survival and that their removal form the reef will deprive wild population of valuable parasite-cleaning services. There are readily available alternatives that include both cleaner gobies of the Gobiosoma family and cleaner shrimp of the Lysmata family. Both of which have high survival rates and have been successful in breeding in captivity. If you decide that you which to purchase a cleaner wrasse then do this wonderful fish a favor and at least house them in a large aquarium which include many tank mates for them to clean and browse mucus from. Cleaner wrasse live in small groups and all start their lives as females with one male at the head of the group, the largest female will then turn sex when the male dies. Ideal tank mates include just about any fish recognize the cleaner wrasse so a few examples are Tangs, Angelfish, Damselfish, Butterflyfish.
Please note that there is a very similar looking fish that resembles the cleaner wrasse, however it is not a wrasse and is in fact a blenny (Aspidontus Taeniatus). The blenny is considered a pest, using its similarity to the wrasse as an advantage tricking into clients thinking that they will receive a cleaning service which turns out to be a robbery due to the blenny taking bites and scales from the client fish. The picture below shows the resemblance between the two. Take notice of the mouths of both fish.


bscworfcw.png
 
My guy here. Eating just everything including mysis, brine with frozen bloodworms being his favorite.

2vwyz9z.jpg
 
Not to be confused with the red sea cleaner wrasse that is dark blue, these eat SPS but not gorgonians :)
 
Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse

Larabicus_quadrilineatus.jpg
 

Most reactions

trending

Staff online

Members online

Back
Top