cleaner wrasse

Moonstream · 06/29/2007, 06:42 AM

these adorable little cleaners have my wrapped around their finger. Or should I say fin?

I found this while looking for info on them, knowing they are hard to keep. here's the link
http://www.angelfire.com/ab/rayjay/cleaner.html

I was planning on keeping in a 10 gallon QT tank, and feeding newly hatched brine (froze and live). Will they clean ocelaris clowns? Percula? Will they fight w/ a neon gobie? Will a neon gobie clean an ocelaris or percula clown?

Moonstream · 06/29/2007, 09:49 AM

hhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

xian · 06/29/2007, 09:58 AM

Easy...

There are a variety of ethical issues involved with these fish so you may not get the type of response you want.

First. Cleaner wrasse are wild collected from reefs, where they fill a vital ecological niche. Because of this they shouldn't be collected and many try to discourage their purchase.

They will clean just about any fish but they tend to not eat in captivity. I have seen several specimens that have taken to frozen mysis but they really need the parasitic crustaceans they get from large reef fish.

They also tend to jump out of uncovered tanks

All in all I don't think that this is the best fish for your 20gal. You may want to consider a neon cleaner goby instead. They have the same colors, they are captive bred and tend not to jump.

Hormigaquatica · 06/29/2007, 11:29 AM

I hate to tell you, but if you understand that they are difficult to keep, Im not sure why yours would be an exception, especially in such a small tank with such limited food resources. They will pick parasites off of clowns, and most any other fish that will let them, but there wont be enough parasites on a living fish to keep a Cleaner Wrasse alive.

Even if you get lucky and have one feed on offered foods (baby brine, mysis, cyclops, etc), that generally just extends the time it takes them to starve to death. Something is missing from that diet that Im not sure anyone has figured out yet. Without the parasites, they still waste away within 6 months almost every time.

Neon cleaner gobies are a really good suggestion. A pair of cleaner shrimp can be interesting to watch too. If you get a much larger tank at some point and want to see cleaning behavior, you can even use certain juvenile angelfish, butterflies, porkfish, other wrasses... its a long list of animals who are well suited to captivity once the parasites run out.

dc · 06/29/2007, 12:11 PM

I just lost mine, he was one of the first fish I got. I'll not get another one even tho he lived for 6 years. When snorkeling in Hawaii, we saw tons and tons of fish. Only 1 pair of cleaner wrasses the whole time we were there.

RichConley · 06/29/2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xian
Easy...

There are a variety of ethical issues involved with these fish so you may not get the type of response you want.

First. Cleaner wrasse are wild collected from reefs, where they fill a vital ecological niche. Because of this they shouldn't be collected and many try to discourage their purchase.

Thats not really any different than cleaner shrimp, and no one discourages purchasing them.

FWIW, my cleaner wrasse ate pretty much everything... and wasted away.

Moonstream · 06/29/2007, 12:44 PM

yes but cleaner shrimp live lol!
point taken no wrasse. I have one cleaner shrimp now, and plan not to get another as I have a pep. shrimp and plan to get 1-3 sexy shrimp in the future, as well as a pistol shrimp that will live w/ my future shrimp goby. Too many shrimp.
how is caring for a neon goby? They are really pretty. Will they clean any living critter too? Should I get 1 or 2 or 3 or what?

aquarius77 · 06/29/2007, 01:02 PM

The only thing i have ever seen my neon goby clean is my clam, actually he was trying to clean out the clam shell completely, eating my beautiful maxima. I moved the clam to another tank and now both are very happy. They are cool fish but im finding out now they only live about 1-2 yrs =-(

rayjay · 06/30/2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moonstream
I was planning on keeping in a 10 gallon QT tank, and feeding newly hatched brine (froze and live). Will they clean ocelaris clowns? Percula?

First, the 10g tank is too small for that cleaner wrasse. I had one in a 20g tank and as it grew I had to move it to a larger tank.
In my case, NONE of my clowns allow any of my cleaner wrasses OR cleaner shrimp to clean them. Don't know why!
I ONLY keep cleaner wrasses from Sri Lanka as others DO NOT have a good track record of survival. These Sri Lankan cleaners start off eating frozen food sized appropriate for the size of the mouth of each one where a very young cleaner I have to "grate" the food for.
Usually within about 3 months I have them eating any food I place in the tank.
I have to use egg crate over tanks with hoods that don't enclose the tank to keep the fish from jumping out. They only try to jump when chased by a fish they have nipped a little too strongly.
I have NEVER seen a cleaner wrasse from Hawaii that lived.

Moonstream · 06/30/2007, 01:39 PM

Ummmm... if you look above you will see that I had decided against them. You will also note that the 10 gallon that is too small is a QT tank. Pls read whole thread before getting so worked up next time.

justinl · 06/30/2007, 02:12 PM

cleaner wrasses suck in home aquaria and im glad that you decided against them. I would go with only 1 neon goby in your tank because they can bully eachother unless you know they are paired. they are really cool fish and will eat most anything that fits in their mouths. I suggest cyclopeeze as a staple food. my neon was cleaning my lemonpeel angel within the first week it was introduced into the tank. i dont see why a clown would be much different... just depends on the clown's personality really.

It will probably not exceed 2 years in your tank but that is because they have short natural lifespans. I really like these fish because they are very easily bred and many of the ones you see at a lfs are tank bred.

TonyTheTiger · 06/30/2007, 03:03 PM

I have a cleaner wrasse. It was one of the first fish we got and I have had him for about a year and a half now. He eats anyting I put in the tank. Mysis, brine, cyclopeeze (spelling), flake food.. etc. He also cleans all of the fish and my hand everytime I put it in the tank. I have an open top tank and he has never jumped and has survived 3 tank upgrades. He is one of my favorite fish. I guess I got lucky and I am the exception to the rule. I did not know much about them when I got him, the fish store I bought them from said he would do great. luckily he did. I do not go to that store anymore! It is a draw if you do decide to go with one, but people are keeping them and some do take to frozen and flake food. Probably better off left on the reef, but I am glad that I have mine!Just my 2 cents

Moonstream · 06/30/2007, 03:11 PM

how would a lemonpeel angel do in my tank? Could it be the first fish in a 6 week old mixed reef 29 gallons.

SDguy · 06/30/2007, 03:14 PM

Lemonpeels are notoriously bad in reefs, and get pretty big. I'd pick something else. Gramma? Clown? Blenny? Goby?

rayjay · 06/30/2007, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moonstream
Ummmm... if you look above you will see that I had decided against them. You will also note that the 10 gallon that is too small is a QT tank. Pls read whole thread before getting so worked up next time.

Sorry you thought I was "getting so worked up" as you say.
However, the whole point of that post was to reinforce the opinion on tank size as well as state my experiences on the Sri Lanka wrasses etc., as others reading the thread may be tempted to think about getting a wrasse and I think it's important to let them know, and, I don't have that info on my cleaner wrasse page you linked to in your original post.
Sorry to have bothered you.

xian · 07/02/2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
Thats not really any different than cleaner shrimp, and no one discourages purchasing them.

FWIW, my cleaner wrasse ate pretty much everything... and wasted away.

I'd say that is pretty much a question of population. Cleaner shrimp reproduce very quickly and prolifically. The reefs produce a sustainable population of cleaner shrimp. Not true of cleaner wrasses.

xian · 07/02/2007, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moonstream
yes but cleaner shrimp live lol!
point taken no wrasse. I have one cleaner shrimp now, and plan not to get another as I have a pep. shrimp and plan to get 1-3 sexy shrimp in the future, as well as a pistol shrimp that will live w/ my future shrimp goby. Too many shrimp.
how is caring for a neon goby? They are really pretty. Will they clean any living critter too? Should I get 1 or 2 or 3 or what?

I always keep my shrimp in pairs I figure that the eggs and shrimp larvae make good coral food. Currently I'm looking for fire shrimp to go on sale so I can replace one that passed away. I wouldn't say that you have too many shrimp. I love tiger pistols. Thats another species on my to buy list.

Neon gobies are easy to care for. As mentioned keep in mind the short lifespan. Mine currently lives in the refugium, just can't resist the overflow.

Moonstream · 07/04/2007, 06:58 PM

hmmm...
will get another pep shrimp and another skunk cleaner soon then.

I love shrimps

AS11423 · 07/04/2007, 06:59 PM

All I can say is that you people better watch yo wrasses.

xcreonx · 07/04/2007, 07:53 PM

wow

mile sq. reefer · 07/04/2007, 08:35 PM

Yeah, I watch two wrasses every day. Mine (CYA) and my wifes.
My cleaner has been going strong for about three years now.

06/29/2007, 06:42 AM	#1
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	cleaner wrasse these adorable little cleaners have my wrapped around their finger. Or should I say fin? I found this while looking for info on them, knowing they are hard to keep. here's the link http://www.angelfire.com/ab/rayjay/cleaner.html I was planning on keeping in a 10 gallon QT tank, and feeding newly hatched brine (froze and live). Will they clean ocelaris clowns? Percula? Will they fight w/ a neon gobie? Will a neon gobie clean an ocelaris or percula clown?

06/29/2007, 09:58 AM	#3
xian Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 2,180	Easy... There are a variety of ethical issues involved with these fish so you may not get the type of response you want. First. Cleaner wrasse are wild collected from reefs, where they fill a vital ecological niche. Because of this they shouldn't be collected and many try to discourage their purchase. They will clean just about any fish but they tend to not eat in captivity. I have seen several specimens that have taken to frozen mysis but they really need the parasitic crustaceans they get from large reef fish. They also tend to jump out of uncovered tanks All in all I don't think that this is the best fish for your 20gal. You may want to consider a neon cleaner goby instead. They have the same colors, they are captive bred and tend not to jump. __________________ -Matt Christian Define Irony: Algae growing on a snail. Current Tank Info: 125 gal planted lagoon

06/29/2007, 11:29 AM	#4
Hormigaquatica Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 3,022	I hate to tell you, but if you understand that they are difficult to keep, Im not sure why yours would be an exception, especially in such a small tank with such limited food resources. They will pick parasites off of clowns, and most any other fish that will let them, but there wont be enough parasites on a living fish to keep a Cleaner Wrasse alive. Even if you get lucky and have one feed on offered foods (baby brine, mysis, cyclops, etc), that generally just extends the time it takes them to starve to death. Something is missing from that diet that Im not sure anyone has figured out yet. Without the parasites, they still waste away within 6 months almost every time. Neon cleaner gobies are a really good suggestion. A pair of cleaner shrimp can be interesting to watch too. If you get a much larger tank at some point and want to see cleaning behavior, you can even use certain juvenile angelfish, butterflies, porkfish, other wrasses... its a long list of animals who are well suited to captivity once the parasites run out. __________________ Reaching up and reaching out and reaching for the random, or whatever will bewilder me. Have Some Personal Accountability Current Tank Info: 240g LPS/Softie Reef

06/29/2007, 12:11 PM	#5
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	I just lost mine, he was one of the first fish I got. I'll not get another one even tho he lived for 6 years. When snorkeling in Hawaii, we saw tons and tons of fish. Only 1 pair of cleaner wrasses the whole time we were there. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

06/30/2007, 03:14 PM	#14
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Lemonpeels are notoriously bad in reefs, and get pretty big. I'd pick something else. Gramma? Clown? Blenny? Goby? __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

06/29/2007, 09:49 AM	#2
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	hhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

06/29/2007, 12:44 PM	#7
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	yes but cleaner shrimp live lol! point taken no wrasse. I have one cleaner shrimp now, and plan not to get another as I have a pep. shrimp and plan to get 1-3 sexy shrimp in the future, as well as a pistol shrimp that will live w/ my future shrimp goby. Too many shrimp. how is caring for a neon goby? They are really pretty. Will they clean any living critter too? Should I get 1 or 2 or 3 or what?

06/29/2007, 01:02 PM	#8
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	The only thing i have ever seen my neon goby clean is my clam, actually he was trying to clean out the clam shell completely, eating my beautiful maxima. I moved the clam to another tank and now both are very happy. They are cool fish but im finding out now they only live about 1-2 yrs =-(

06/30/2007, 01:39 PM	#10
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	Ummmm... if you look above you will see that I had decided against them. You will also note that the 10 gallon that is too small is a QT tank. Pls read whole thread before getting so worked up next time.

06/30/2007, 02:12 PM	#11
justinl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,118	cleaner wrasses suck in home aquaria and im glad that you decided against them. I would go with only 1 neon goby in your tank because they can bully eachother unless you know they are paired. they are really cool fish and will eat most anything that fits in their mouths. I suggest cyclopeeze as a staple food. my neon was cleaning my lemonpeel angel within the first week it was introduced into the tank. i dont see why a clown would be much different... just depends on the clown's personality really. It will probably not exceed 2 years in your tank but that is because they have short natural lifespans. I really like these fish because they are very easily bred and many of the ones you see at a lfs are tank bred.

06/30/2007, 03:03 PM	#12
TonyTheTiger Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 87	I have a cleaner wrasse. It was one of the first fish we got and I have had him for about a year and a half now. He eats anyting I put in the tank. Mysis, brine, cyclopeeze (spelling), flake food.. etc. He also cleans all of the fish and my hand everytime I put it in the tank. I have an open top tank and he has never jumped and has survived 3 tank upgrades. He is one of my favorite fish. I guess I got lucky and I am the exception to the rule. I did not know much about them when I got him, the fish store I bought them from said he would do great. luckily he did. I do not go to that store anymore! It is a draw if you do decide to go with one, but people are keeping them and some do take to frozen and flake food. Probably better off left on the reef, but I am glad that I have mine!Just my 2 cents

06/30/2007, 03:11 PM	#13
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	how would a lemonpeel angel do in my tank? Could it be the first fish in a 6 week old mixed reef 29 gallons.

07/04/2007, 06:58 PM	#18
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	hmmm... will get another pep shrimp and another skunk cleaner soon then. I love shrimps

07/04/2007, 06:59 PM	#19
AS11423 Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 250	All I can say is that you people better watch yo wrasses.

07/04/2007, 07:53 PM	#20
xcreonx Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,362	wow __________________ Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them. -Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 90g shallow with H. Barbouri Seahorses

07/04/2007, 08:35 PM	#21
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	Yeah, I watch two wrasses every day. Mine (CYA) and my wifes. My cleaner has been going strong for about three years now.