Blue streak Cleaner Wrasse

[fishyideas]

Hi guys, got a cleaner wrasse today, heard some people had a wonderful experience with it and some said that cleaner wrasses are extremely hard to care of.
My cleaner wrasse has already found a spot it likes and is cleaning my scopas tang, it’s also pecking at the rocks…
Anybody that has experience with cleaner wrasses, any tips?
What food?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

With cleaner wrasse, it is all about the source. Cleaner wrasse from Indonesia or the Philippines tend to be more delicate. Those from East Africa are really sturdy. You may not know where yours was collected, and just be aware that cleaner wrasse from all sources tend to look good for a few weeks, but then the more delicate ones begin to fade and often die.

Feeding should be small bits of high protein, high fat food; chopped up mysids, small sinking pellets if they'll take them. Multiple small feeding each day is best.

Jay

 

[fishyideas]

Thanks for the reply! My cleaner wrasse doesn’t seem to take interest in the mysis I just fed the tank, but it is very interested in grazing on the rocks and eating stuff on it which I don’t know what they are and it’s also very interested in my scopas tang.. Any ideas?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

With cleaner wrasse, it is all about the source. Cleaner wrasse from Indonesia or the Philippines tend to be more delicate. Those from East Africa are really sturdy. You may not know where yours was collected, and just be aware that cleaner wrasse from all sources tend to look good for a few weeks, but then the more delicate ones begin to fade and often die.

Feeding should be small bits of high protein, high fat food; chopped up mysids, small sinking pellets if they'll take them. Multiple small feeding each day is best.

Jay

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the reply! My cleaner wrasse doesn’t seem to take interest in the mysis I just fed the tank, but it is very interested in grazing on the rocks and eating stuff on it which I don’t know what they are and it’s also very interested in my scopas tang.. Any ideas?

You need to chop the mysids into tiny pieces. The best thing to try is live baby brine shrimp, but you'll need to hatch those out yourself.

 

[fishyideas]

You need to chop the mysids into tiny pieces. The best thing to try is live baby brine shrimp, but you'll need to hatch those out yourself.

Ok , thanks

 

[braaap]

I’ve had one for 6 months. I feed just spectrum pellets and he goes around eating pods. He is very vibrant and happy.

 

[fishyideas]

I’ve had one for 6 months. I feed just spectrum pellets and he goes around eating pods. He is very vibrant and happy.

Ok, is that why my wrasse keeps eating stuff off the rocks? He seems very interested in the rocks

 

[braaap]

Ok, is that why my wrasse keeps eating stuff off the rocks? He seems very interested in the rocks

Yes most likely. Mine cruises around all day eating pods off the glass and rocks. He doesn’t eat flatworms though.