| Identification | Mostly blue body with a black stripe running the length of the body. Underside is commonly white. |
|---|---|
| Maximum Length | 3.9″ |
| Origin | |
| Minimum Tank Size | 20 Gallon |
| Reef Compatibility | Excellent if Parasites are present. |
Behavior
Cleaner wrasses are small reef fish that engage in mutualistic cleaning behavior, removing parasites and dead tissue from other fish while exhibiting complex social and cognitive behaviors.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on external parasites on fish. Will also eat the slime coat of fish.
Cautions
Cleaner wrasses are territorial and typically remain at a specific landmark on the reef, such as a coral head or rocky outcrop. They can service hundreds of clients per day in the wild, and their cleaning activity fosters cooperation and social cohesion among reef fish, including predator species that temporarily suspend hunting instincts while being cleaned. The species is also a protogynous sequential hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female, and the largest fish in a social group can transform into a male under social pressure.