A cleaner wrasse or a cleaner shrimp for parasite control??

[Mr James]

I have always had cleaner shrimps and they did just fine for parasite control. I love watching my fish come into the "cleaning station". Do the wrasses really work??

 

[Steven Pro]

The diet of cleaner wrasses is 75% gnathid isopods, the rest being scales and fish mucus that comes off with the isopods. So if you have a problem with those pests, the wrasse would be a good option.

By the way, in all my years in this hobby/industry, I have only heard of one case of someone having trouble this those isopods. The cirolanid isopods that seem to be going around now are a different animal.

 

[Mr James]

Your comments have been stirring in the back of my head for a bit now. I don't know what I have on my Kole Tang, I have always said it looks like dandruff. In the past I have used cleaner shrimps and they have worked well. I figured I would try a cleaner wrasse and see what results I get. What does a cirolanid isopod look like?? Or even a gnathid isopod?!?

 

[AIMFish]

I'd stick with the shrimp, unless you have enough parasites to keep the cleaner wrasse alive, and if you do you have some serious problems requiring more than the wrasse! They are extremely difficult to get eating in captivity. If you want a "cleaner" fish try a neon goby.

 

[Mr James]

Too late. I already have the wrasse. I thought I read that they won't starve if the parasites run out?!? I still may get a shrimp anyway.

 

[Steven Pro]

See here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/labroide.htm for information on the cleaner wrasse and here for http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/bp/index.php Cirolanids.

 

[kass03]

I agree that the cleaner wrasse rarely live long in captivity.

kass

 

[Sk8r]

The cleaner goby is fairly hardy, and in my own experience, will take other food. Like all cleaners, it can become a pest to the other fish.