Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)

Max Size: 5 1/2 inches
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Minimum Tank Size: 90 gallons

The Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse is a fascinating fish that can be found alone, in pairs, or even in groups. It has a unique symbiotic relationship with other species, as it sets up cleaning stations to remove unwanted parasites that may have latched onto them. These cleaner wrasses use a calming up and down movement of their tails to invite other fish to their cleaning stations, and they may even clean the mouths and gills of larger fish.

African and Maldivian Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasses are procured in very small numbers through a short supply chain in the Western Indian Ocean. Despite this, they can thrive in home aquariums. However, it's important to note that these wrasses require advanced care, making them best suited for experienced marine aquarists. To ensure their well-being, the Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse needs plenty of swimming room, as they are highly active fish. They should be housed with other fish that have different shapes and colors in a community marine aquarium. Additionally, it's crucial to have a tightly fitting lid or canopy, as these wrasses are prone to leaping from open-topped aquariums or into uncovered overflow boxes in reef-ready style displays.

Feeding the Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse requires multiple small meals throughout the day, as they cannot consume large meals in one sitting. Providing them with vitamin-enriched frozen mysis shrimp, frozen brine shrimp, and other small, meaty foods is ideal. Once they have acclimated to the home aquarium, you can also offer them high-quality marine flake and tiny marine pellet food to complement their staple diet of enriched frozen food.

By offering the appropriate care and diet, the Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse can thrive and continue to showcase its remarkable behavior and beneficial symbiotic interactions in your marine aquarium.