About Cleaner Wrasse

The Cleaner Wrasse is a fascinating fish that provides a valuable service in reef aquariums by eating parasites and dead tissue from other fish. They establish cleaning stations where other fish come to be serviced. Unfortunately, they are difficult to keep alive in aquariums because they often starve when natural parasite loads are low. They need large, established tanks with plenty of fish to clean or must be fed constantly. Many aquarists choose Cleaner Shrimp instead, which are easier to maintain. Only expert aquarists with large, heavily stocked reefs should attempt these fish.

Care Guide

Care Requirements

Tank Setup

Cleaner Wrasses need large, established reef tanks with plenty of fish.

Essential Setup:

  • 50+ gallons minimum
  • Heavily stocked tank: Need fish to clean
  • Live rock with cleaning station
  • Strong filtration
  • Temperature 72-78°F

Water Quality

  • Temperature: 72-78°F (22-25.5°C)
  • pH: 8.1-8.4
  • Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.025
  • Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
  • Nitrate: <20 ppm

Feeding

Specialized diet:

  • Natural food: Parasites from other fish
  • Supplement: Frozen Mysis, marine pellets
  • Challenge: Often starve in home aquariums

WARNING: Many Cleaner Wrasses starve in aquariums without adequate parasite loads.

Cleaning Behavior

Fascinating natural behavior:

  • Cleaning station: Established location
  • Fish queue up: Wait to be cleaned
  • Parasite removal: Eats external parasites
  • Dead tissue: Cleans wounds
  • Mutualism: Benefits both parties

Behavior & Compatibility

Peaceful service providers:

  • Peaceful: Service all fish
  • Active: Constantly working
  • Social: Often work in pairs or groups
  • Essential: For reef ecosystem

Good Tank Mates:

  • All reef fish
  • Need plenty of fish to clean

Avoid:

  • Other cleaner wrasses (competition)
  • Fish that may bully cleaners

Survival Challenges

Difficult to maintain:

  • Starvation: Primary cause of death
  • Not enough parasites: In most tanks
  • Special feeding: Requires constant attention
  • Alternative: Cleaner Shrimp easier to keep

Alternative Recommendation

Consider Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) instead:

  • Easier to feed
  • Same cleaning function
  • More hardy
  • Better survival rate

Tips for Success

  • Only for large, heavily stocked reefs
  • Must supplement feed heavily
  • High mortality in home aquariums
  • Consider Cleaner Shrimp instead
  • Expert-level fish only

Compatible Tank Mates

🐠 Reef fish
🐠 Tangs
🐠 Angelfish
🐠 All reef inhabitants