Checking vendor inventory…
Cleaner wrasses provide ecological cleaning service to other reef fish - eat parasites and dead tissue from their bodies. In captivity, most struggle to transition to prepared foods and the supply of natural cleaning service is limited by tank size and fish population. Many keepers and conservation groups discourage purchase due to high mortality rates and ecological impact on reefs where they are heavily collected.
Native range: Indo-Pacific. Wrasses (family Labridae) are one of the most diverse and successful fish families on coral reefs - approximately 600 described species worldwide, of which 40-60 are commonly available in the marine aquarium trade. The Cleaner Wrasse is part of the Wrasse (Labridae) - Labroides grouping, characterized by elongated body shape, terminal-phase sex change (most species), and active reef-grazing or pest-control behavior.
Tank size: 90 gallons. Sand substrate is non-negotiable for sand-sleeping wrasse genera (Halichoeres, Macropharyngodon, Anampses) - 2-3 inches of fine pool-filter sand minimum. Rockwork should provide multiple cave entrances and tight crevices the fish can wedge into for sleeping or escape. Lid: tight-fitting, gap-free. Wrasses are the second-most-common jumping casualties in reef tanks after gobies - a single 1cm gap is enough.
Flow: moderate to moderately strong is preferred by most wrasses - they evolved on current-swept reefs. Lighting: standard reef LED works for all wrasses; the fish itself does not require special spectrum.
Specialty - fish parasites/mucus in wild; in captivity transition to frozen mysis, brine, copepods. Most wrasses have very high metabolic rates and need 2-3 feedings daily. Skipping feedings during business travel or vacations leads to rapid condition loss - schedule automatic feeders or vendor-trusted tank-sitters for extended absences.
Safe: Larger fish that benefit from cleaning service.
Avoid: Small fish that the wrasse will harass for cleaning.
Not captive bred at commercial scale. Most wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites - born female, transition to male as they reach social dominance in a group. Tank breeding of wrasses is rare due to the complex behaviors and pelagic egg-laying that resists captive replication.
Refusal to transition to prepared foods (top cause of death); excessive cleaning behavior stressing tank mates.
Cleaner wrasses provide ecological cleaning service to other reef fish - eat parasites and dead tissue from their bodies. In captivity, most struggle to transition to prepared foods and the supply of natural cleaning service is limited by tank size and fish population. Many keepers and conservation groups discourage purchase due to high mortality rates and ecological impact on reefs where they are heavily collected.
The Cleaner Wrasse needs a tank of at least 90 gallons. Sand substrate is non-negotiable for sand-sleeping wrasse genera (Halichoeres, Macropharyngodon, Anampses) - 2-3 inches of fine pool-filter sand minimum. Rockwork should provide multiple cave entrances and tight crevices the fish can wedge into for sleeping or escape. Wrasses are the second-most-common jumping casualties in reef tanks after gobies - a single 1cm gap is enough.
The Cleaner Wrasse is rated advanced (controversial) difficulty on this care sheet. It needs a tank of at least 90 gallons, a temperature of 74-82°F and salinity of 1.024-1.026. Adults reach about 4.5" and live 4-7 years (often shorter). Cleaner wrasses provide ecological cleaning service to other reef fish - eat parasites and dead tissue from their bodies.
Specialty - fish parasites/mucus in wild; in captivity transition to frozen mysis, brine, copepods. Most wrasses have very high metabolic rates and need 2-3 feedings daily. Skipping feedings during business travel or vacations leads to rapid condition loss - schedule automatic feeders or vendor-trusted tank-sitters for extended absences.
Refusal to transition to prepared foods (top cause of death); excessive cleaning behavior stressing tank mates. Keeper note: Captive husbandry is controversial - many fail to acclimate to prepared foods. Consider neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops) as a captive-bred alternative cleaning fish.
Not captive bred at commercial scale. Most wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites - born female, transition to male as they reach social dominance in a group. Tank breeding of wrasses is rare due to the complex behaviors and pelagic egg-laying that resists captive replication.
Fast Aquatics vendors ship live marine fish overnight to all 50 US states with carrier-tracked Buyer Protection.
Get drop alerts → Are you a vendor? Apply →