Cleaner Wrasses, are they worth it?

[A Young Reefer]

mine lived for 9 months even though it ate prepped food, to this day it was probably one of the most fun fish I ever owned. it used to go inside my gloves when working on the tank.

 

[TWYOUNG]

I’ve gone through a few of blue streak cleaners myself before I landed on the longest lasting one coming 9 months. Not surprisingly, it’s also the smallest (wild caught) one I’ve got, under 1”. It’s a very welcome additions to my tank’s habitants, including Wrasses and Anthias, due to its small size.

As I’m managing ICH at the very moment with H2O2+UV, the cleaner wrasse acts as an ICH pointer as well as a good indicator of the current state of ICH infestation.

A must have addition for me.

I'm guessing you don't have a Six Line Wrasse since as you can tell from these responses it could definitely be a problem. Have you seen any negative effects from the H2O2? I've heard it can be hard on inverts and I wonder what it would do to the pods I've worked so hard to establish.

 

[TWYOUNG]

I've had my cleaner wrasse for over a year along with 4 other wrasses including a 6 line. He is a model citizen cleaning anyone that wants to be cleaned. Beautiful fish and constant movement.

Do you think the size of the cleaner would matter? I'd prefer captive bred however they're only an inch long and $$$$?

 

[Slocke]

I have a biota. For me ethically it was the only way to have one. It's in a tank with 17 other fish but most of its diet is still frozen. As for size mine has grown significantly in the month or so I've had it. I'd guess it's doubled in weight. Also every fish I've gotten from biota was and still is in great health.

 

[Queen Anne's Corals]

They are pretty effective and take their job seriously but if for no other reason they are extremely fun to watch, to me anyway. As others have mentioned it's not going to be the ultimate solution to any problems but it can't hurt depending on your other livestock. I love the tangs and more rare colorful fish but still to this day two of my favorite things to watch are a lawnmower blenny bouncing around from rock to rock and cleaner shrimp riding a tang across the tank. Cleaner wrasse are right up there with the cleaner shrimp for my amusement level and can put in a lot of work if allowed. End of the day it's all about what you want to see when you look in the tank as this is supposed to be a source of enjoyment and relaxation for most people.

 

[Saltees]

I'm guessing you don't have a Six Line Wrasse since as you can tell from these responses it could definitely be a problem. Have you seen any negative effects from the H2O2? I've heard it can be hard on inverts and I wonder what it would do to the pods I've worked so hard to establish.

Right! I don’t have 6 line, but China wrasse, radiant wrasse, yellow coris wrasse and solar wrasse. I do have feisty damsels (incl. 4 mcculloch clowns) that would not hesitate to show the cleaner who’s boss.

I do have 2 banana eels and 6 tangs, maybe that’s what is keeping the cleaner happy.

IMHO, anemone and shrimps get hit the hardest from H2O2, but that’s another topic on it’s own.

 

[i cant think]

Right! I don’t have 6 line, but China wrasse, radiant wrasse, yellow coris wrasse and solar wrasse. I do have feisty damsels (incl. 4 mcculloch clowns) that would not hesitate to show the cleaner who’s boss.

I do have 2 banana eels and 6 tangs, maybe that’s what is keeping the cleaner happy.

IMHO, anemone and shrimps get hit the hardest from H2O2, but that’s another topic own it’s own.

Those wrasses you have are known for being peaceful unless you actually don’t have the true Solorensis and instead have what was reclassified as Aquamarinus.
Chances are high that the amount of large fish you have is keeping a happy Labroides dimidatus.

 

[Saltees]

Those wrasses you have are actually known for being peaceful unless you actually don’t have the true Solorensis and instead have what was reclassified as Aquamarinus.
Chances are high that the amount of large fish you have is keeping a happy Labroides dimidatus.

My bad, mine is Aquamarinus!

But I’m pretty sure that the cleaner is the fastest (and one of the fattest) fish in my tank.

 

[TWYOUNG]

Right! I don’t have 6 line, but China wrasse, radiant wrasse, yellow coris wrasse and solar wrasse. I do have feisty damsels (incl. 4 mcculloch clowns) that would not hesitate to show the cleaner who’s boss.

I do have 2 banana eels and 6 tangs, maybe that’s what is keeping the cleaner happy.

IMHO, anemone and shrimps get hit the hardest from H2O2, but that’s another topic on it’s own.

Curious what Tangs you have? I've got a White Tail and Yellow. My pride and joy is my PBT which is lone fish remaining in my old tank I intended to shut down. At this point people have mostly advised against it thinking he'd terrorize the others.

 

[TWYOUNG]

I have a biota. For me ethically it was the only way to have one. It's in a tank with 17 other fish but most of its diet is still frozen. As for size mine has grown significantly in the month or so I've had it. I'd guess it's doubled in weight. Also every fish I've gotten from biota was and still is in great health.

I've had good luck with my captive bred specimens except for my Yellow Watchman who is SO SMALL he's constantly hidden. I've only seen him about a half a dozen times in 3 months.

 

[Saltees]

Curious what Tangs you have? I've got a White Tail and Yellow. My pride and joy is my PBT which is lone fish remaining in my old tank I intended to shut down. At this point people have mostly advised against it thinking he'd terrorize the others.

I have Powder Blue Tang, Blonde Naso Tang, Desjardin Sailfin Tang, Purple Tang, Yellow Tang and Gem Tang now.

H2O2 dosing more or less bought me time to relocate my corals/invert/liverocks (76-90days fallow) and 2 eels (HTTM) to their own holding tanks. While I plan to copper (30-45days) and prazi (14 days) my display. Since I’m essentially quarantining all my fishes properly once and for all, I hope to complete my collection with a WhiteTail Bristletooth Tang and an Achilles Tang.

 

[Lavey29]

Do you think the size of the cleaner would matter? I'd prefer captive bred however they're only an inch long and $$$$?

Mine was like 1.5 inches when I got him. Like 4 now. 6 lines hunt in the rocks and caves all day. Cleaners free swim outside the rocks all day. Trick is getting them to eat frozen well to supplement their normal parasites food sources. They sleep funny to, nose in straight down a small hole. Tail barely shows. Same hole every night.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Mine was like 1.5 inches when I got him. Like 4 now. 6 lines hunt in the rocks and caves all day. Cleaners free swim outside the rocks all day. Trick is getting them to eat frozen well to supplement their normal parasites food sources. They sleep funny to, nose in straight down a small hole. Tail barely shows. Same hole every night.

The sleeping is a trip. Lost one that way, had a turbo snail cause some loose rock to slip, pinned the guy in the rock, took a few days to realize something was up .

 

[TWYOUNG]

I have Powder Blue Tang, Blonde Naso Tang, Desjardin Sailfin Tang, Purple Tang, Yellow Tang and Gem Tang now.

H2O2 dosing more or less bought me time to relocate my corals/invert/liverocks (76-90days fallow) and 2 eels (HTTM) to their own holding tanks. While I plan to copper (30-45days) and prazi (14 days) my display. Since I’m essentially quarantining all my fishes properly once and for all, I hope to complete my collection with a WhiteTail Bristletooth Tang and an Achilles Tang.

How big is that display? I'm working with a 60"x24"x22" tank and my Powder Blue would make the third Tang. Didn't know you could quarantine in your display? Obviously not a reef. Do you have substrate? What about rock, will it absorb copper?

 

[TWYOUNG]

The sleeping is a trip. Lost one that way, had a turbo snail cause some loose rock to slip, pinned the guy in the rock, took a few days to realize something was up .

If I get one it would likely be captive bred and eating aquarium food. Sounds like you think it could work with my 6 line? Problem is if size matters, captive raised are only about an inch long.

 

[Lavey29]

The sleeping is a trip. Lost one that way, had a turbo snail cause some loose rock to slip, pinned the guy in the rock, took a few days to realize something was up .

Oh that's so sad, sorry for your loss.

 

[TWYOUNG]

Ive had mine (Blue streak) close to 8 years and it keeps going from fish to fish til today and eats everything that he can find.
(top middle of pic)

Have you had any other wrasses during that time and do you think my 6 line is a deal breaker? 5'x2' tank with 100#'s of rock.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

If I get one it would likely be captive bred and eating aquarium food. Sounds like you think it could work with my 6 line? Problem is if size matters, captive raised are only about an inch long.

I'm not the one to ask, I've had bad experiences with sixes and other wrasses. So I'd say no, or replace the six with something with less penchant for evilness.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Oh that's so sad, sorry for your loss.

Eh, a loss is a loss. That one lasted a few months, got it after my 2 year old one upped and died.

 

[Saltees]

How big is that display? I'm working with a 60"x24"x22" tank and my Powder Blue would make the third Tang. Didn't know you could quarantine in your display? Obviously not a reef. Do you have substrate? What about rock, will it absorb copper?

My display is the same size as yours, 4’x2’x2’ RSR500P and I have 2 other 1mx1mx0.5m 500L (120G) holding tanks.

I’m running bare bottom in my display and I’ll be moving my rocks, corals and invert to my holding tanks; Going Fish Only with PVC Pipes to rid my whole display and sump of ICH.