"African" Cleaner Wrasse - where to buy?

skimjim · 11/11/2014, 04:14 PM

I just recently bought a NON-African cleaner wrasse and the first week was great. Now that I'm into week two, the wrasse has lost its "pep" and not swimming around much. Big time sign its slowly dying from malnutrition. I've tried frozen mysis, larrys reef food, bloodworms, small frozen krill.... it will "pick" at the meaty stuff but doesn't seem to truly EAT the stuff.

Now, I not looking for comments on why you shouldn't buy a cleaner wrasse bc they die. I know this. But after much research, the AFRICAN cleaner wrasse is the ONLY that can live for 2yrs in a reef.

I want to order an African Cleaner Wrasse that seems to live on frozen foods for a couple years. WHERE to buy an African Cleaner Wrasse????? .... and be guaranteed it from the African region.

Spork3245 · 11/11/2014, 04:29 PM

IMO you're better off with a cleaner goby, they are tank bred and definitely eat frozen, pellet and flaked food.

shesacharmer · 11/11/2014, 07:04 PM

I got my African Cleaner Wrasse from Bluezoo.

skimjim · 11/11/2014, 08:24 PM

Seems like Cleaner Wrasses are just too if-fy.... i read an article that only 1 out of 1,000 cleaner wrasses live past 1yr in captivity. their nutritional needs just aren't met... when in the wild they eat a variety of parasites off honkin' huge fish that just arent met in a person's tank.

so i'm researching cleaner shrimp versus neon cleaner gobys that are much more stable.

if anyone has comments about neon cleaner gobys, i'm listening.

11/11/2014, 04:14 PM	#1
skimjim Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 513	"African" Cleaner Wrasse - where to buy? I just recently bought a NON-African cleaner wrasse and the first week was great. Now that I'm into week two, the wrasse has lost its "pep" and not swimming around much. Big time sign its slowly dying from malnutrition. I've tried frozen mysis, larrys reef food, bloodworms, small frozen krill.... it will "pick" at the meaty stuff but doesn't seem to truly EAT the stuff. Now, I not looking for comments on why you shouldn't buy a cleaner wrasse bc they die. I know this. But after much research, the AFRICAN cleaner wrasse is the ONLY that can live for 2yrs in a reef. I want to order an African Cleaner Wrasse that seems to live on frozen foods for a couple years. WHERE to buy an African Cleaner Wrasse????? .... and be guaranteed it from the African region. Last edited by skimjim; 11/11/2014 at 04:19 PM.

11/11/2014, 07:04 PM	#3
shesacharmer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Central NH Posts: 1,241	I got my African Cleaner Wrasse from Bluezoo. __________________ 75 gal, LR w/refugium, 79 deg, PH 8.0, sg 1.025, amm 0/nit 0/nit 0, Calcium 420, dKH 8.3, mag 1300, Phos 0 Current Tank Info: A work in progress...

11/11/2014, 04:29 PM	#2
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	IMO you're better off with a cleaner goby, they are tank bred and definitely eat frozen, pellet and flaked food.

11/11/2014, 08:24 PM	#4
skimjim Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 513	Seems like Cleaner Wrasses are just too if-fy.... i read an article that only 1 out of 1,000 cleaner wrasses live past 1yr in captivity. their nutritional needs just aren't met... when in the wild they eat a variety of parasites off honkin' huge fish that just arent met in a person's tank. so i'm researching cleaner shrimp versus neon cleaner gobys that are much more stable. if anyone has comments about neon cleaner gobys, i'm listening.