Cleaner wrasse?

[mfaso24]

I've had my cleaner wrasse for a while and notice something a little odd. First, it's worth noting that it doesn't seem to be super active in cleaning. But when it does clean a fish or a fish comes over to it and looks for service, sometimes it looks like it pricks a fish a little too hard and hurts them. My yellow tang has been known to chase him for a second or so after that happens...but they always seem to come back for more... What's up with this?
I am almost certain it is not a false cleaner. I've identified by the mouth being at the end rather than underside of the snout. Is it possible it could be a false cleaner with the mouth at the end?
Here's the best picture I could capture of him...he moves around a lot.

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[Dmorty217]

This is why they aren't recommended for smaller tanks, something 300g+ with lots of larger fish to clean/annoy is best. The cleaner is pestering the fish. Behavior won't stop. I have seen fish literally jump out of tanks to get away from cleaner wrasse before, have also watched a trigger take a bite out of one because of the constant pestering

 

[eastlake]

Definitely looks like a blue streak cleaner wrasse to me. The hard nip is one way to let the fish being cleaned to know its done, and sometimes the fish being cleaned will chase the cleaner off when its annoyed. So to the above point, I do agree the larger a big fish population the better for cleaners, a 55 in my opinion is a touch small and it could pester your inhabitants, but each fish in an individual so best of luck to you.

 

[mfaso24]

I totally understand what you guys are saying, but the fish come to cleaner looking for service...it's not like the cleaner runs around after fish looking to clean. Here's a video showing what I'm talking about, maybe it's a bit clearer than my explanation. https://vimeo.com/166203533

Fwiw, yesterday this same anthias was constantly looking to be cleaned and the cleaner would just ignore him! Lol


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[eastlake]

to me it just looks like the cleaner is giving the anthias the proverbial slap on the can to say "go on get outa here, next!"

 

[Dmorty217]

I would question why the fish keep coming to the cleaner for a cleaning service? That usually doesn't mean good things. Do you QT new arrivals?

 

[mfaso24]

I would question why the fish keep coming to the cleaner for a cleaning service? That usually doesn't mean good things. Do you QT new arrivals?

Yeah and nothing has been added recently. I was wondering the same thing as they usually don't do that. Yesterday was weird in that he constantly wanted to be cleaned. Usually none of my fish do that except on the rare occasion. He didn't seem bothered or flashing or anything of the sort so I'm not overly worried

 

[humaguy]

think it is normal behavior for a cleaner...lol, there is always something to clean! they clean my arm when in the tank, same as cleaner shrimp, though there are times the other fish react neg to a cleaning, lol, too much of a good thing??
some other fish, including some angels, act as cleaners...my bandit used to clean my clarion, gf, and ch...
lol, maybe it's like getting a back rub, and a nerve is hit..the pleasure becomes pain and you react!
same with the fish, he is getting a back rub from said cleaner and cleaner hits all nerve, fish reacts...

 

[Myles]

I've had both the blenny mimic and the real cleaner wrasse and I think you've got a wrasse.
Besides the different mouths they swim differently and the cleaner wrasse builds a mucus cocoon to sleep in like parrot fish. If you had the false cleaner you'd see torn fins that were bitten off.
Cleaner wrasse will take some body slime when they clean so chasing both before and after cleaning is normal behavior.
Myles

 

[Jeff4777]

Appears to be a cleaner wrasse. This is why I like my yellow line gobies though! Don't really see much cleaning but I don't think there is anything to clean.