Product Description
The Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) is a vibrant Indo-Pacific reef fish famous for its symbiotic "cleaning station" behavior, where it removes parasites and dead tissue from larger fish, earning trust for its food and protection, though it can be difficult to keep due to specialized diets in captivity, needing a large tank and often specialized frozen foods, and generally only one per aquarium to prevent aggression. They are peaceful but territorial with their own kind, growing up to 5.5 inches and displaying distinct juvenile (black with blue stripe) and adult (blue with black stripe) patterns.
Key Characteristics
Appearance: Juveniles are black with a blue stripe; adults are bright blue with a thick black stripe down the middle, often with a hook on their tail fin.
Size: Grows to about 4.5 to 5.5 inches (14 cm).
Temperament: Peaceful towards other species, but aggressive towards other cleaner wrasses, so keep only one per tank.
Habitat: Found on coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific, setting up "cleaning stations" where they groom other fish.
Diet & Behavior
Natural Diet: Parasites, mucus, and dead skin from other fish.
Aquarium Diet: Needs a varied diet of frozen foods like brine shrimp, cyclopeeze, and specialized marine formulas; often difficult to transition from live food.
Cleaning Behavior: Uses unique oscillating movements to attract fish, which open their mouths and gills for cleaning, a rare interspecies cooperation.
Aquarium Care
Tank Size: Minimum 30-55 gallons or larger, with ample live rock for hiding and potential food sources.
Compatibility: Gets along with most peaceful fish but may annoy small, stressed fish by trying to clean them too often if food is scarce.
Special Needs: Requires a well-established reef tank with plenty of tankmates to maintain its specialized diet and behavior; can become a nuisance if underfed.
