Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Also known as: Cleaner Wrasse, Common Cleaner Wrasse, Bluestripe Cleaner Wrasse

The Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse is a striking species featuring a distinctive blue and black horizontal stripe running the length of its body. This intelligent fish performs a vital cleaning service in the reef, removing parasites and dead tissue from other fish. While fascinating to observe, this species has specific care requirements and dietary needs that make it challenging to keep long-term.

Key Features

• Scientific Name: Labroides dimidiatus
• Common Names: Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse, Cleaner Wrasse, Common Cleaner Wrasse, Bluestripe Cleaner Wrasse
• Adult Size: Up to 4-5 inches
• Lifespan: 5-7 years with proper care (often shorter in captivity without proper diet)
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Reef Compatibility: Reef safe
• Minimum Tank Size: 90 gallons minimum
• Experience Level: Advanced; requires specialized care and feeding

Habitat & Tank Requirements

• Tank Environment: Provide established aquariums with abundant live rock creating caves and territories for other fish. This species needs tankmates to clean. Dense rock work provides sleeping areas and security. Moderate sand beds are beneficial for resting behavior. Best suited for well-established reef systems with diverse fish populations.
• Water Parameters:
  • Temperature: 72-78°F (22-26°C)
  • Salinity: 1.020-1.025
  • pH: 8.1-8.4
  • Excellent water quality essential
  • Requires pristine, stable conditions
• Equipment Recommendations:
  • High-quality protein skimmer
  • Efficient biological filtration
  • Moderate water flow
  • Secure aquarium lid

Diet & Feeding

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasses have specialized dietary needs that make them challenging to maintain. Recommended foods include:

• Staples: High-quality marine pellets, marine flake food (must be trained to accept)
• Frozen Foods: Vitamin-enriched mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, cyclops, rotifers
• Live Foods: Copepods, amphipods, and other micro-crustaceans from established system
• Natural Diet: Will clean parasites and dead tissue from tankmates
• Feeding Frequency: Multiple small feedings throughout the day (3-4 times minimum)
• Special Note: This species naturally feeds continuously throughout the day. Supplement with vitamin and fatty acid-enriched foods. Success depends heavily on training to accept prepared foods.

Notes & Considerations

• Named for distinctive bright blue and black horizontal stripes along the entire body.
• Performs natural cleaning behavior, establishing “cleaning stations” in the aquarium.
• Will approach and clean other fish by removing parasites and dead tissue.
• Some individuals may nip at fish slime coats if insufficient natural food is available.
• Peaceful toward corals and invertebrates; truly reef safe.
• Requires multiple peaceful tankmates to fulfill cleaning instinct.
• Difficult to feed in captivity without proper preparation and training.
• Many wild-caught specimens fail to adapt to prepared foods and slowly starve.
• High metabolism requires frequent feeding throughout the day.
• Best kept singly; can be territorial toward other cleaner wrasse species.
• Active swimmers that patrol the entire aquarium seeking fish to clean.
• Known jumpers; secure lid absolutely essential.
• Sleep behavior includes wedging into rock crevices at night.
• Intelligent species that recognizes individual tankmates and their regular cleaning “clients.”
• May become stressed in aggressive tanks or with overly territorial fish.
• Does best in peaceful community reef tanks with diverse fish populations.
• Not recommended for fish-only systems or tanks with few tankmates.
• Not suitable for beginners due to specialized dietary requirements.

Why Choose a Quarantined Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse?

Purchasing a quarantined specimen from us means you’re starting with a fish that has been successfully trained to accept prepared foods—the single most critical factor for long-term survival of this species. All fish are carefully observed, treated as needed, and conditioned to eagerly accept multiple types of frozen and prepared foods before sale. Our quarantine process ensures the fish is healthy, feeding well, and properly acclimated, dramatically improving your chances of success with this challenging but rewarding species.