Cleaner Wrasse

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About Cleaner Wrasse

The Cleaner Wrasse is one of the most fascinating fish in the marine aquarium hobby, famous for its bright blue and black horizontal markings and its unique natural behaviour of cleaning other fish.

In the wild, Cleaner Wrasses establish cleaning stations where larger fish visit to have parasites, dead tissue and other unwanted material removed from their bodies. This fascinating interaction makes them an incredibly interesting addition to a marine aquarium.

However, Cleaner Wrasses are considered challenging to maintain long term. Their natural diet consists heavily of parasites and other small organisms collected from other fish, and many wild-caught specimens struggle to adapt to conventional aquarium foods.

A mature aquarium with plenty of healthy fish, established live rock and a stable ecosystem provides the best possible environment. Even in established systems, their long-term dietary requirements can make them unsuitable for inexperienced aquarists.

When successfully maintained, Cleaner Wrasses are peaceful and generally reef safe, making them a spectacular addition to a mature marine aquarium.

Quick Care Guide

Scientific Name: Labroides dimidiatus
Common Name: Cleaner Wrasse
Family: Labridae
Type: Marine Fish / Cleaner Wrasse
Adult Size: Approximately 14 cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Care Level: Advanced
Minimum Aquarium: 250 L+ Mature System
Temperature: 24–28°C
pH: 8.0–8.4
Salinity: 1.023–1.026 SG
Diet: Carnivore / Parasite Feeder
Tank Level: All Levels
Reef Safe: Yes
Suitable For: Mature reef aquariums with established fish populations

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cleaner Wrasses easy to keep?

No. Cleaner Wrasses are considered advanced-care fish because of their specialised natural feeding behaviour.

What do Cleaner Wrasses eat?

In nature they primarily feed on parasites, dead tissue and mucus from other fish. Some individuals can adapt to frozen foods and prepared diets, but this should not be assumed.

Can Cleaner Wrasses survive without other fish?

They are much more difficult to maintain without suitable host fish because their natural feeding behaviour depends on cleaning other fish.

Are Cleaner Wrasses reef safe?

Yes. They are generally considered reef safe and will not normally damage corals or ornamental invertebrates.

Do Cleaner Wrasses actually clean other fish?

Yes. They establish cleaning stations where other fish allow them to remove parasites, dead tissue and other material from their bodies.

Common Mistakes

Buying one because it is a natural "parasite cleaner"
A Cleaner Wrasse should not be purchased as a solution for parasites in an aquarium. Their own long-term dietary requirements are complex.

Adding one to a new aquarium
They require a mature, stable ecosystem with established fish and abundant natural food opportunities.

Assuming it will eat pellets
Some individuals adapt to prepared foods, but many wild specimens can be extremely difficult to transition.

Keeping one without suitable host fish
Their natural behaviour relies heavily on interactions with other fish.

Using a Cleaner Wrasse as parasite control
They should not replace quarantine or appropriate disease-management practices.