Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) Care
- Thread starter jack123
- Start date
DustyReefer
New member
They are a very active fish that do like a decent amount of flow in the tank. Tank size I would recommend at least a 75 due to their active nature. They are incredibly peaceful with all other fish, although I wouldn't recommend putting another cleaner in with them. As for food when I had mine he would eat literally everything I put in the tank, and ate with voracity. They are constantly cleaning other fish, and are very intricate about this behavior. Quite fun to watch IMO. Some people say they are short lived in tanks due to a dietary problem that they are not getting necessary foods in the home aquarium, but I never got to test that due to downgrading after only having him for 4 months.
rssjsb
New member
The best way to care for these fish is to leave them in the ocean. Many eat and still perish in captivity. Others become a problem by pestering tankmates to a point of stressing them out.
Even if you get one that thrives and doen't become a problem, I think this is one of those semi/difficult fish whose collection from the reef (where they play an important role) should not be encouraged.
Just my .02.
Even if you get one that thrives and doen't become a problem, I think this is one of those semi/difficult fish whose collection from the reef (where they play an important role) should not be encouraged.
Just my .02.
From what I can tell from my experiences, and from what I have read on RC, the ones from "Africa" do well. Mine have actually proven to be extremely hardy. They don't need any special foods, and they don't bother my other fish.
I've seen those studies on cleaner wrasses and reefs. My only issue with them is that no one has done studies to show how quickly they repopulate. In fact, IIRC, one study had a hard time keeping new cleaners out of the area for their study. Proving a reef without cleaner wrasses ever again is not what happens with fish collecting, AFAIK. Cleaner wrasses, AFAIK, don't have a fecundity issue whatsoever. So suggesting that taking cleaners is any different than taking an algae eating fish, or any other fish that provides a "service" to the reef, for example, is a little flawed, IMO.
I've seen those studies on cleaner wrasses and reefs. My only issue with them is that no one has done studies to show how quickly they repopulate. In fact, IIRC, one study had a hard time keeping new cleaners out of the area for their study. Proving a reef without cleaner wrasses ever again is not what happens with fish collecting, AFAIK. Cleaner wrasses, AFAIK, don't have a fecundity issue whatsoever. So suggesting that taking cleaners is any different than taking an algae eating fish, or any other fish that provides a "service" to the reef, for example, is a little flawed, IMO.
Last edited:
ilikefish34
New member
I believe they do best when put in large aquariums with a decent-large fish load. In a smaller tank, I would have to agree with rssjsb, in that they can pester the other fish. It's best if their attention can be spread out amongst several other fish. Never mix with any boxfish or other fish that have toxic skin. And I've seen one relentlessly pick on a Juv. marine betta in a lfs (don't know if the spots were confusing to him and was definitely not the mimic cleaner). Not aware of the difference between those from different collection areas. With all of that said, more will die than survive by a considerable margin and I would leave them be.
rssjsb
New member
I don't want to be repeating dogma and I haven't seen the studies so maybe I should just stop with that line of reasoning. As a general rule, it always just seems like a waste to keep collecting fish that have an iffy survival rate in captivity. The reef function just makes that wastefulness worse to me.
If the African ones do better, then maybe the equation changes anyway.
I'm not condoning the keeping of the fish, but if you do, remember that they have tiny mouths. I don't think that they really get enough to eat if they're only pecking at mysis. Try Ova or Reef Caviar; the wrasse will go bananas over foods like this that he can eat a lot of. Mine eventually was transitioned over to mini-pellets.
