Adding a cleaner wrasse?

KeepOnReefin · 05/09/2008, 03:58 PM

Would it be ok to add a cleaner wrasse to a 29g mixed reef with a proven pair of Osc. clowns?

are they carpet divers?
dig sand? cause rock to fall?
clowns get along with cleaner wrasse?

kvosstra · 05/09/2008, 04:10 PM

They are not a good choice for any aquarium as they have a very dismal survival rate in captivity.
I would go for a flame or flasher wrasse or something of that sort instead.

918ReefCpl · 05/09/2008, 09:18 PM

Had our 'cleaner' wrass for over a year - going strong and getting larger than when we first got him...just need to be sure to offer foodstuffs that 'he' will eat and are small enough for 'him' to eat...found that daphnia, cyclops are good and he does go after the 'pods' in the tank as well...

Pastor B · 05/10/2008, 07:48 PM

Dear hobbyist, I too have had my cleaner wrasse for a year now, and I must say that he's a very hearty fish. It will eat parasites,and meaty items.

Peter Eichler · 05/10/2008, 08:22 PM

You guys got lucky, this is not a fish to be suggesting to others. You're the exception to the norm. Just because yours is doing well and eating doesn't mean that for every one like yours there aren't 100 others that just starve to death within the first year.

tbittner · 05/10/2008, 09:08 PM

I agree with Peter. These fish should be left in the ocean. They provide a valuable service in the ocean, cleaning parasites off of fish. But in the ocean there are a LOT of fish for it to clean. When a cleaner wrasse is removed from the ocean, it's area is left without a cleaner and the fish in that area could become overcome with parasites.

Our aquariums don't have nearly enough fish in them to provide a cleaner wrasse with enough food.

If aquarists stop buying cleaners, the demand will drop, and they will be left in the ocean where they belong.

mile sq. reefer · 05/10/2008, 10:14 PM

My blue streak is close to four years in the tank. I love that fish. Eats small pellets, Nori, mysis, and helps clean the other tank mates. I agree this is the exception and not the norm.

Mac Inger · 05/11/2008, 12:44 AM

im another exception at 1.5 years. mine loves flake food

SuperNerd · 05/11/2008, 12:55 AM

Why not a goby instead?

Wrench · 05/11/2008, 10:46 AM

Our club bought a dozen of them for various members. Only 2 were DOA and the other 10 are all still alive and thriving after 2 years. I don't see where the problems are coming from. They eat everything, mysis, krill, clam, flake, pellets, even nori. They are also more effective at cleaning parasites from fish that cleaner shrimp.

They are a good fish. If you have a healthy tank and access to good livestock then give it a shot.

Wrench · 05/11/2008, 10:47 AM

Wanted to add that I don't think it's a matter of being the "exception to the norm". If that was the case, we wouldn't have had such a high success rate.

dman17878 · 05/11/2008, 07:47 PM

I have 2 in my reef that are eating everything including my fish!!!! They drive my fish crazy, constantly picking at them and then being chased. Im not an expert but it looks as if they eat dead scales off the fish, but once the dead scales are gone they will eat the others. If I could get them out I would . My tangs still stop to get cleaned, but almost always turn to chase them around the tank.

Peter Eichler · 05/11/2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dman17878
I have 2 in my reef that are eating everything including my fish!!!! They drive my fish crazy, constantly picking at them and then being chased. Im not an expert but it looks as if they eat dead scales off the fish, but once the dead scales are gone they will eat the others. If I could get them out I would . My tangs still stop to get cleaned, but almost always turn to chase them around the tank.

Are you sure you don't have Aspidontus taeniatus AKA the Seber tooth/Fango tooth Blenny? They're almost identical except the Blenny's mouth is below it's snout and the Wrasse's is at the very tip.

dman17878 · 05/11/2008, 09:00 PM

Im pretty sure they are cleaners I initaly wondered the same thing but after compairing photos from my atlas and on line im convenced that they are cleaners .Like you said the jaw is diffrent and you can actually see the teeth on the false cleaners

Ah-lim · 05/12/2008, 04:23 AM

Mine lasted for 1 yr in my FWOL while my pals had it for only a few months.

Eating mysis and pellets and even nori.

Would not encourage to keep unless the tank is more than 150 gallons.
Heavily stocked.

kalare · 05/12/2008, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wrench
Wanted to add that I don't think it's a matter of being the "exception to the norm". If that was the case, we wouldn't have had such a high success rate.

I suggest you do a little more research before basing your opinion on 10 fish. The VAST majority of these fish die, fact. For the last 15 years I've been doing this, the answer is always the same, leave them in the ocean.

Aquabucket · 05/12/2008, 05:14 AM

The "tipped glass method" works really well to get these guys feeding.

05/09/2008, 03:58 PM	#1
KeepOnReefin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 154	Adding a cleaner wrasse? Would it be ok to add a cleaner wrasse to a 29g mixed reef with a proven pair of Osc. clowns? are they carpet divers? dig sand? cause rock to fall? clowns get along with cleaner wrasse?

05/09/2008, 04:10 PM	#2
kvosstra Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 995	They are not a good choice for any aquarium as they have a very dismal survival rate in captivity. I would go for a flame or flasher wrasse or something of that sort instead. __________________ "To him, all good things, trout as well as eternal salvation, come by grace and grace comes by art and art does not come easy." -Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It, 1976 Current Tank Info: recently set up my 40G sps tank again!

05/10/2008, 08:22 PM	#5
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	You guys got lucky, this is not a fish to be suggesting to others. You're the exception to the norm. Just because yours is doing well and eating doesn't mean that for every one like yours there aren't 100 others that just starve to death within the first year. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

05/11/2008, 12:55 AM	#9
SuperNerd Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: SoCal/Left Side- USA Posts: 4,572	Why not a goby instead? __________________ I said fraggit! Current Tank Info: M-728 Combat Engineer (based on M60 hull). M-3 Lee Medium (British version with squatter).

05/12/2008, 05:14 AM	#17
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	The "tipped glass method" works really well to get these guys feeding. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

05/09/2008, 09:18 PM	#3
918ReefCpl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 736	Had our 'cleaner' wrass for over a year - going strong and getting larger than when we first got him...just need to be sure to offer foodstuffs that 'he' will eat and are small enough for 'him' to eat...found that daphnia, cyclops are good and he does go after the 'pods' in the tank as well...

05/10/2008, 07:48 PM	#4
Pastor B Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ct. Posts: 18	Dear hobbyist, I too have had my cleaner wrasse for a year now, and I must say that he's a very hearty fish. It will eat parasites,and meaty items.

05/10/2008, 09:08 PM	#6
tbittner Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 607	I agree with Peter. These fish should be left in the ocean. They provide a valuable service in the ocean, cleaning parasites off of fish. But in the ocean there are a LOT of fish for it to clean. When a cleaner wrasse is removed from the ocean, it's area is left without a cleaner and the fish in that area could become overcome with parasites. Our aquariums don't have nearly enough fish in them to provide a cleaner wrasse with enough food. If aquarists stop buying cleaners, the demand will drop, and they will be left in the ocean where they belong.

05/10/2008, 10:14 PM	#7
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	My blue streak is close to four years in the tank. I love that fish. Eats small pellets, Nori, mysis, and helps clean the other tank mates. I agree this is the exception and not the norm.

05/11/2008, 12:44 AM	#8
Mac Inger Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 980	im another exception at 1.5 years. mine loves flake food

05/11/2008, 10:46 AM	#10
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	Our club bought a dozen of them for various members. Only 2 were DOA and the other 10 are all still alive and thriving after 2 years. I don't see where the problems are coming from. They eat everything, mysis, krill, clam, flake, pellets, even nori. They are also more effective at cleaning parasites from fish that cleaner shrimp. They are a good fish. If you have a healthy tank and access to good livestock then give it a shot.

05/11/2008, 10:47 AM	#11
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	Wanted to add that I don't think it's a matter of being the "exception to the norm". If that was the case, we wouldn't have had such a high success rate.

05/11/2008, 07:47 PM	#12
dman17878 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: where It's always cold WI Posts: 208	I have 2 in my reef that are eating everything including my fish!!!! They drive my fish crazy, constantly picking at them and then being chased. Im not an expert but it looks as if they eat dead scales off the fish, but once the dead scales are gone they will eat the others. If I could get them out I would . My tangs still stop to get cleaned, but almost always turn to chase them around the tank.

05/11/2008, 09:00 PM	#14
dman17878 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: where It's always cold WI Posts: 208	Im pretty sure they are cleaners I initaly wondered the same thing but after compairing photos from my atlas and on line im convenced that they are cleaners .Like you said the jaw is diffrent and you can actually see the teeth on the false cleaners

05/12/2008, 04:23 AM	#15
Ah-lim Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 33	Mine lasted for 1 yr in my FWOL while my pals had it for only a few months. Eating mysis and pellets and even nori. Would not encourage to keep unless the tank is more than 150 gallons. Heavily stocked.