Gale - 2019-06-21 I've had 4 cleaner wrasses for over a year. One is much larger than the other three. She has been getting fat lately and I assumed it was because she was well-fed. Last night I thought I was losing her because she was swimming very erratically when she released a bunch of eggs into the water!!! She was not dying after all!
CJ - 2019-05-17 I currently have Blue Cleaner Wrasse in one of my reef tanks and so far is doing well. When I put him in my Clown Surgeon needed a clean up. He got straight to work servicing him and my Purple Tang, he now keeps an eye on the Blenny and Gobbie that live here. He always went crazy for frozen shrimp but has now started to eat anything I put in be it frozen or dried foods. He eats all flakes loves Chlorella and Micro Green Pellets swallows the Blood Worms in one along with the Heart and Prawn mix by Marine Fuel. I am out in NZ and we have a great supplier here called Eastern Marine who Sources us a lot of Australian live stock. As a lot of us know Australians do a really good job of getting these things from the see and keeping them top notch. Matt at Easrern Marine is also very passionate about what he’s doing and keeps them this way for us to purchase. I believe this is a major key to keeping some of these things alive. I also think there are fish out their that we give you more problems that can take more than them selves out of your marine aquarium when it happens, such as the Powder Blue, Archilies tangs and other members of its family or the Moorish Idol that doesn’t want to eat or even a Copper Band Butterfly, so why not the fuss about these guys remaining in the see as they are going to give problems that will exceed the Blue Cleaner Wrasse. “CJ. New Zealand”
Chris - 2018-04-24 Hi, I have had 2 cleaner Wrasse in my 900 litre fish only tank for about 6 months. Before I bought them I studied their eating habits in the shop (already being aware of their apparent difficulty) I’m not that seasoned in keeping marines but have kept tropicals including discus for about 10 yrs. My thoughts were if they’re gonna be kept in an aquarium I’d rather it be my 8ft tank thank somebody else’s 3 foot. They eat anything that goes in the tank, in fact they eat more prepared or frozen foods than they do mucus and the like from other fish. I think the advancement in tank husbandry allows hobbyists to better take care of their animals than in the past. With the Biologists who frequent these forums who say these fish should be left in the ocean I whole heartedly agree- I believe they should all be left in their natural habitat but unfortunately that is never going to happen so I would just prefer the people who buy these beautiful creatures to ensure that they research their fish properly and do everything in their power to provide them with the best environment that they are able.
Tom Roughan - 2013-01-08 My bluestreak I have had for 2 weeks will eat mysis or brine shrimp out of my hand, he also goes mad for ocean nutrition green marine algae.
allison - 2012-07-06 My sister has a cleaner wrasse in her tank for years now. I usually study up on fish that I plan to purchase but didn't this one and purchased one today. I thought is was dead because it was curled up in a shell. It wasn't dead but I wish the seller had told me they don't usually survive. They never said a word about it. My levals are great and I have I hope plenty of fish for it to clean. Ill say a prayer for my new fish as I always do when adding a new fish to my aquarium.
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Jeremy Roche - 2012-07-07 Sounds like you know what you are doing. I am sure he will do well. The issue is usually the fishh keeper not giving proper care.
Abby L. Schwarz, Ph.D. - 2004-11-24 I am a marine biologist specializing in animal behaviour and ecology, and have worked with fishes over the last twenty years. I do not believe that fishes like cleaner wrasses should be offered for sale. They belong in the ocean where they perform an unusual service for other fishes (removal of ectoparasites). Most people do not have the facilities to maintain these animals. If the aquarium surroundings cannot match its surroundings in the wild to a satisfactory degree (for the fish), choose another species whose requirements are simpler to meet.
Thank you.
Abby L. Schwarz, Ph.D.
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Joe Bryan - 2012-06-09 For every comment I hear and see about these fish, be it from a “PHD” or layman, the answer does lie in the education of the consumer, but please don’t rag on the “newbie’s” or the consumer that purchases a cleaner wrasse, rag on the industry selling these beautiful fish. Yeah I have one too and if I had done my homework I would have elected not to purchase, but as stated by many on this form he/she is doing just fine and has outlive the PHD’s stated life expectancy by far. Funny thing is, months after I had bought it I asked the owner of the LFS (he didn’t sell it to me, his help did) about the survivability of these beautiful fish and he even said it wouldn’t survive, what the heck, so why are you selling em? So the point, get the trade to stop selling these fish for “profit”…
Corey - 2010-02-22 Hi, I have had my cleaner wrasse for about 8 mths now and he seems to like my tank and his tankmates (blue tang, pair marroon clownfish, mimic tang, dottyback, and yellow bellied damsels). The LFS said nothing about how short lived his life could be but am happy to say he is doing well :). He seems to go about his business and is regularly seen cleaning mainly the larger fish, but does also seem to pick at my arm from time to time when i'm doing maintenance.
Nick Black - 2010-02-11 A little over a year ago I was a beginner, at best, marine tank enthusiast. When a coral beauty that I had recently introduced into the tank displayed signs of a parasite, I became very concerned and sought advice from the aquarium shop that I patronize. They recommended a cleaner wrasse, which I promptly bought. Had I read the information that has been shared in this site by seasoned authorities like Dr. Abby Schwarz, I would not have purchased my cleaner wrasse. However, I do wish to share my experience with other fish lovers that may find themselves in the same predicament as I was a year ago.
"Doc", my cleaner wrasse, is an incredible fish. He has a personality and interacts with people that look at his tank. He is extremely inquisitive and loves to explore all areas of the tank. He is also capable of communicating with me when he is hungry, as he breaks into a dance-like movement. If he is full, he goes about his business of exploring, checking out fish for parasites and just cruising in the tank.
I have had Doc for one year now and I am happy to state that he has done well and has even grown in size. After learning about the plight of the cleaner wrasse, I read as much about this fish as I could. I introduced him to many varieties of food and can share with you my findings. He loves to pick and choose through Rod's assorted food (for smaller fish). He will eat frozen Mysis shrimp and cyclops. But, he absolutely loves live brine shrimp and blood worms. He will also eat flakes once he is used to eating the live and frozen foods I described.
Doc also loves to pick at my hands and arms when I am cleaning or working in the tank. Apparently he likes to pick off dead skin that is common in humans. Everyone in my office is in love with Doc and share in the opinion that such a wonderful and useful fish is better left in his own environment. As I cannot afford a trip to the Indo-Pacific ocean area to set him free, the best I can do is continue to provide the best possible care.
The Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse or Common Cleaner Wrasse is one of the most fascinating and well-known saltwater fish.
I've had 4 cleaner wrasses for over a year. One is much larger than the other three. She has been getting fat lately and I assumed it was because she was well-fed. Last night I thought I was losing her because she was swimming very erratically when she released a bunch of eggs into the water!!! She was not dying after all!
I currently have Blue Cleaner Wrasse in one of my reef tanks and so far is doing well. When I put him in my Clown Surgeon needed a clean up. He got straight to work servicing him and my Purple Tang, he now keeps an eye on the Blenny and Gobbie that live here. He always went crazy for frozen shrimp but has now started to eat anything I put in be it frozen or dried foods. He eats all flakes loves Chlorella and Micro Green Pellets swallows the Blood Worms in one along with the Heart and Prawn mix by Marine Fuel. I am out in NZ and we have a great supplier here called Eastern Marine who Sources us a lot of Australian live stock. As a lot of us know Australians do a really good job of getting these things from the see and keeping them top notch. Matt at Easrern Marine is also very passionate about what he’s doing and keeps them this way for us to purchase. I believe this is a major key to keeping some of these things alive. I also think there are fish out their that we give you more problems that can take more than them selves out of your marine aquarium when it happens, such as the Powder Blue, Archilies tangs and other members of its family or the Moorish Idol that doesn’t want to eat or even a Copper Band Butterfly, so why not the fuss about these guys remaining in the see as they are going to give problems that will exceed the Blue Cleaner Wrasse. “CJ. New Zealand”
I love every sea creature and reptiles
Hi, I have had 2 cleaner Wrasse in my 900 litre fish only tank for about 6 months. Before I bought them I studied their eating habits in the shop (already being aware of their apparent difficulty) I’m not that seasoned in keeping marines but have kept tropicals including discus for about 10 yrs. My thoughts were if they’re gonna be kept in an aquarium I’d rather it be my 8ft tank thank somebody else’s 3 foot. They eat anything that goes in the tank, in fact they eat more prepared or frozen foods than they do mucus and the like from other fish. I think the advancement in tank husbandry allows hobbyists to better take care of their animals than in the past. With the Biologists who frequent these forums who say these fish should be left in the ocean I whole heartedly agree- I believe they should all be left in their natural habitat but unfortunately that is never going to happen so I would just prefer the people who buy these beautiful creatures to ensure that they research their fish properly and do everything in their power to provide them with the best environment that they are able.
My wrasse keeps making a slim ball and stops swimming
My bluestreak I have had for 2 weeks will eat mysis or brine shrimp out of my hand, he also goes mad for ocean nutrition green marine algae.
My sister has a cleaner wrasse in her tank for years now. I usually study up on fish that I plan to purchase but didn't this one and purchased one today. I thought is was dead because it was curled up in a shell. It wasn't dead but I wish the seller had told me they don't usually survive. They never said a word about it. My levals are great and I have I hope plenty of fish for it to clean. Ill say a prayer for my new fish as I always do when adding a new fish to my aquarium.
Sounds like you know what you are doing. I am sure he will do well. The issue is usually the fishh keeper not giving proper care.
I am a marine biologist specializing in animal behaviour and ecology, and have worked with fishes over the last twenty years. I do not believe that fishes like cleaner wrasses should be offered for sale. They belong in the ocean where they perform an unusual service for other fishes (removal of ectoparasites). Most people do not have the facilities to maintain these animals. If the aquarium surroundings cannot match its surroundings in the wild to a satisfactory degree (for the fish), choose another species whose requirements are simpler to meet.
Thank you.
Abby L. Schwarz, Ph.D.
For every comment I hear and see about these fish, be it from a “PHD” or layman, the answer does lie in the education of the consumer, but please don’t rag on the “newbie’s” or the consumer that purchases a cleaner wrasse, rag on the industry selling these beautiful fish. Yeah I have one too and if I had done my homework I would have elected not to purchase, but as stated by many on this form he/she is doing just fine and has outlive the PHD’s stated life expectancy by far. Funny thing is, months after I had bought it I asked the owner of the LFS (he didn’t sell it to me, his help did) about the survivability of these beautiful fish and he even said it wouldn’t survive, what the heck, so why are you selling em? So the point, get the trade to stop selling these fish for “profit”…
Hi, I have had my cleaner wrasse for about 8 mths now and he seems to like my tank and his tankmates (blue tang, pair marroon clownfish, mimic tang, dottyback, and yellow bellied damsels). The LFS said nothing about how short lived his life could be but am happy to say he is doing well :). He seems to go about his business and is regularly seen cleaning mainly the larger fish, but does also seem to pick at my arm from time to time when i'm doing maintenance.
A little over a year ago I was a beginner, at best, marine tank enthusiast. When a coral beauty that I had recently introduced into the tank displayed signs of a parasite, I became very concerned and sought advice from the aquarium shop that I patronize. They recommended a cleaner wrasse, which I promptly bought. Had I read the information that has been shared in this site by seasoned authorities like Dr. Abby Schwarz, I would not have purchased my cleaner wrasse. However, I do wish to share my experience with other fish lovers that may find themselves in the same predicament as I was a year ago.
"Doc", my cleaner wrasse, is an incredible fish. He has a personality and interacts with people that look at his tank. He is extremely inquisitive and loves to explore all areas of the tank. He is also capable of communicating with me when he is hungry, as he breaks into a dance-like movement. If he is full, he goes about his business of exploring, checking out fish for parasites and just cruising in the tank.
I have had Doc for one year now and I am happy to state that he has done well and has even grown in size. After learning about the plight of the cleaner wrasse, I read as much about this fish as I could. I introduced him to many varieties of food and can share with you my findings. He loves to pick and choose through Rod's assorted food (for smaller fish). He will eat frozen Mysis shrimp and cyclops. But, he absolutely loves live brine shrimp and blood worms. He will also eat flakes once he is used to eating the live and frozen foods I described.
Doc also loves to pick at my hands and arms when I am cleaning or working in the tank. Apparently he likes to pick off dead skin that is common in humans. Everyone in my office is in love with Doc and share in the opinion that such a wonderful and useful fish is better left in his own environment. As I cannot afford a trip to the Indo-Pacific ocean area to set him free, the best I can do is continue to provide the best possible care.