Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse
Price range: $39.99 through $49.99
Labroides dimidiatus
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Color Form | Black, Blue, White |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Reef Compatible | Yes |
| Water Conditions | sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4 |
| Max Size | 5.5″ |
| Family | Labridae |
| Minimum Tank Size | 90 gallons |
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Description
Overview
The Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) is a small, vibrant fish known for its unique mutualistic relationship with other reef fish, where it operates “cleaning stations” to remove parasites and dead skin.Â
Physical Characteristics
The Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse has an elongated body, typically growing to about 4 to 5.5 inches (10 to 14 cm) in length. Adults feature a white to blueish front part, which changes to a bright blue towards the tail, with a broad, jet-black longitudinal stripe that runs from the snout to the end of the tail. Juveniles are predominantly black with a single electric blue line.Â
Habitat and Distribution
This species is abundant across the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea and Eastern Africa to French Polynesia and the Great Barrier Reef. They inhabit coral-rich areas, subtidal reef flats, and seaward reefs, typically at depths of up to 40 meters (131 feet).Â
Behavior and Diet (Symbiosis)
The defining behavior of the Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse is its role as a “cleaner” fish. It sets up fixed locations on the reef called cleaning stations, where larger fish, known as “clients”, come to be serviced.Â
- Mutualism: This is a mutualistic relationship where the wrasse gets a reliable food source (ectoparasites, mucus, and dead tissue) and the client fish benefits from improved health and reduced stress.
- Cleaning Process: The wrasse attracts clients with a distinctive “dance-like” swimming motion. The client fish, even large predators like groupers and moray eels, will refrain from eating the wrasse and adopt a specific pose to allow the cleaner access to their body surface, gills, and even mouth interiors.
- Diet: In the wild, their diet is specialized, focusing on the parasites and dead tissue of other fish.Â
In the Aquarium
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasses are popular in the aquarium trade due to their unique behavior, but they are considered expert-only fish due to their specialized dietary needs. Wild-caught specimens often struggle to adapt to prepared foods in captivity. Captive-bred individuals are better suited for home aquariums as they are typically trained to eat a varied diet of frozen and flake foods.Â
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Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1″ to 2″; Medium: 2″ to 3″; Large: 3″ to 4″
Additional information
| Size |
Medium ,Large |
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Pygoplites diacanthus
| Care Level | Expert Only |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Color Form | Black, Blue, White, Yellow |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reef Compatible | With Caution |
| Water Conditions | sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4 |
| Max Size | 10" |
| Family | Pomacanthidae |
| Minimum Tank Size | 125 gallons |
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