Cleaner Wrasse

[CrayolaViolence]

I've read several articles where it says these fish can't survive in captivity because they starve. The question I have is this, what if the cleaner is eating frozen food? Is there still a dietary issue? Has anyone ever successfully kept one for any length of time (like 2+ years).

 

[adam_Lawrence]

I have kept one for close to 2 years untill it found a small hole and went carpet sufing. It would eat frozen food.

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[anthonys51]

I have seen people keep them. They told me they feed varied diet. Just remember there mouths are very small. I have 2 in my tank currently. The lfs told me not to add them both to my tank but I didn't listen. ( maybe my wife is right I never listen ). Currently it's been 6 weeks both swimming and eating. They even pick at the nori I feed the tank


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[GimpyFin]

They're real hit and miss as far as eating frozen food. I had one that ate small prepared food in my old tank (Cyclopeeze, roe, etc.), but he still only lasted about 6-9 months. Unless I had a big tank with lots of big fish, I wouldn't get another one. And if it's the Hawaiian variant (With the yellow head), just forget about it altogether as they are next to impossible to keep.

 

[humaguy]

African cleaner wrasses are the way to go. They should also be kept with fish that wont eat them if they become a nuisance.

 

[anthonys51]

How you know if your is from Africa


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[Silly clownfish]

I had one for about 2.5 years back in the 90's. I never heard anything back then about them not surviving in captivity, so I didn't know they needed any special consideration.

Back then I was mainly feeding flakes and some pellets. Minimal frozen.

Mine had the cutest habit: I had a dead barnacle in the tank as a decoration and at night the wrasse would curl up in one of the holes, kinda like a cat in a cat bed.

Toward the end, he did change in appearance, with his colors less vibrant and scales more noticable, not skinny, but sort of like turing grey and aging. This could have indicated some nutritional deficiencly, or just age. Obviously with a wild caught fish we don't know their age. That said since 2 of his tank mates from the 90's are still bright and active, I have a hard time believing it was just age.

Kim

 

[ca1ore]

I've kept the 'regular' blue streak a few times. No problems feeding it, but problems keeping them in the tank. Though I have not tied one, the Hawaiian yellow/blue cleaner is apparently very hard to keep.

 

[Andrew D]

I too have had numerous, all eating and thriving. I had to get rid of them all eventually because they would pick at the mantle of my large clam which would cause it to close and eventually die. I kept trying but they all would eventually do this so now I don't try anymore. I fed a variety of flake, pellet and LRS reef frenzy frozen food, and they seemed to eat everything.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

Good, then the first one I had before I had a crash wasn't a fluke. I was given one as a gift the other day and was worried it may suffer from malnutrition. So far it's eating like a pig, eating anything and everything I put into the tank. The cleaner has always been one of my favorite fish, but I got the first one before I knew the warnings about them. I wanted another but have been reluctant due to all those warnings. I'll keep feeding this one a varied diet and maybe it will get fat.

 

[jason2459]

How you know if your is from Africa


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Basically if its drab black and silver/gray and looks like you can see "ribs" its probably the blue streak cleaner wrasse from Africa. They tend to do better if you have a heavier fish population and larger fish like tangs, foxfish, rabbit fish, angels, groupers, etc. Having more helps spread out them picking on fewer fish that could be annoyed by it.

http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1378+309&pcatid=309

They tend to do better then the much prettier Hawaiian cleaner wrasses.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cle...60&bih=560#tbm=isch&q=hawaiian+cleaner+wrasse


Edit: holy heck that's one hell of a url

 

[anthonys51]

Yes I have the one from Africa. Actually have 2 and they get along


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[AkoAung]

I've kept the 'regular' blue streak a few times. No problems feeding it, but problems keeping them in the tank. Though I have not tied one, the Hawaiian yellow/blue cleaner is apparently very hard to keep.

There's good news! Hawaiian cleaner wrasse are captive bred now!

 

[jason2459]

There's good news! Hawaiian cleaner wrasse are captive bred now!

Link?

 

[AkoAung]

Link?

Posted the news as a separate thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2621551

 

[ca1ore]

There's good news! Hawaiian cleaner wrasse are captive bred now!

How about that! I've actually never seen one for sale at any of my LFS. Would have tried if so.

 

[anthonys51]

That's great news. Anytime we don't have to take from the wild is great. Even on easy to keep fish a huge prevent that's collected will die within first year. So captive raised is always a plus


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