Cleaner Wrasse Colour Variation

[Paddy CP]

I'm wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to get hold of bluestreak cleaner wrasse in the UK that have a yellow top to their head, like many do in Indonesia (see images)

I've only ever seen plain blue/black/white ones here in the UK, but would love to get my hands on some with a yellow cap if possible!
Any ideas of suppliers/individuals with them would be super appreciated

Yellow heads:

Plain:

 

[StatelineReefer]

Labroides phthirophagus is a species found only in Hawaii, and as such, is still under collection ban. I wouldn't expect to see a golden cleaner wrasse any time soon.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I'm wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to get hold of bluestreak cleaner wrasse in the UK that have a yellow top to their head, like many do in Indonesia (see images)

I've only ever seen plain blue/black/white ones here in the UK, but would love to get my hands on some with a yellow cap if possible!
Any ideas of suppliers/individuals with them would be super appreciated

Yellow heads:

Plain:

I had always assumed that the color variation on these was size related. This species is not dimorphic, so it isn't male/female related. I checked though, and Joe Rowlett wrote an article a few years ago that discusses some differences in coloration in this widespread species:

A Mysterious New Cleaner Wrasse in the South Pacific

The Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) is one of the most well-known and well-studied species of Indo-Pacific reef fish, famed for its habit of in

reefs.com

From a husbandry standpoint, I always acquire cleaner wrasse coming from the West Pacific (Kenya for example) or Australia. These are MUCH hardier than ones from Indonesia or the Philippines. This is probably due to better handling/collection techniques there, but it is so well known that some importers have begun calling all cleaner wrasse "African" in order to have better sales.


Jay

 

[Paddy CP]

I had always assumed that the color variation on these was size related. This species is not dimorphic, so it isn't male/female related. I checked though, and Joe Rowlett wrote an article a few years ago that discusses some differences in coloration in this widespread species:

A Mysterious New Cleaner Wrasse in the South Pacific

The Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) is one of the most well-known and well-studied species of Indo-Pacific reef fish, famed for its habit of in

reefs.com

From a husbandry standpoint, I always acquire cleaner wrasse coming from the West Pacific (Kenya for example) or Australia. These are MUCH hardier than ones from Indonesia or the Philippines. This is probably due to better handling/collection techniques there, but it is so well known that some importers have begun calling all cleaner wrasse "African" in order to have better sales.


Jay

Thanks Jay, that's super interesting - and great article!

Do you have any recommendations of suppliers who might be able to source some of these more diverse individuals by any chance? It'd be great to know what might be possible.

Thanks

 

[paragrouper]

Biota has them listed on their website

Link

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Jay, that's super interesting - and great article!

Do you have any recommendations of suppliers who might be able to source some of these more diverse individuals by any chance? It'd be great to know what might be possible.

Thanks

Biota has tanked raised some at times, but I don’t know if the supply to the UK. Kenya Tropicals sells a lot of fish to Europe and the UK, but I don’t know who might distribute for them - Amblard Trading perhaps.
Jay