Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) | Live Saltwater Reef Fish

The Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), also known as the Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse, is a slim, peaceful reef fish famous for setting up "cleaning stations" in the wild and removing parasites, dead skin, and mucus from larger fish. With its black body and electric-blue lateral stripes, it's instantly recognizable and brings a unique behavior to a community reef. Care level is advanced — Cleaner Wrasses have a highly specialized natural diet and require a mature, fish-stocked reef tank to thrive long-term.

Available in Tiny, Small, Medium, and Large sizes — please select your preferred size from the variant options above.

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• Tank Size: 75 gallons minimum — needs a mature reef with plenty of fish to clean and lots of swimming room
• Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
• Salinity: 1.020–1.025 sg (specific gravity)
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• dKH: 8–12
• Diet: Carnivore — naturally feeds on parasites, dead skin, and mucus from other fish. In captivity, must be transitioned to frozen mysis, brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and high-quality marine pellets. Feed multiple small meals per day.
• Temperament: Peaceful — non-aggressive toward other fish and invertebrates
• Reef Compatible: Yes — will not nip corals or invertebrates
• Max Size: ~5.5 inches (14 cm)

Cleaner Wrasses are peaceful and reef-safe, doing best in mature reef tanks with several other fish species to clean. They actively swim through the water column and visit "client" fish that hover for service — a fascinating natural behavior that adds movement and interest to the tank.

Good tank mates: Tangs, dwarf and pygmy angels, clownfish, gobies, blennies, anthias, peaceful damsels, cardinalfish, and most reef invertebrates (shrimp, snails, hermit crabs, corals).

Avoid: Aggressive triggers, large angels, lionfish, groupers, and any predatory fish large enough to swallow a slim wrasse. Avoid keeping more than one Cleaner Wrasse unless the tank is very large (180+ gallons).

• Frozen mysis, brine shrimp & marine carnivore foods — primary captive diet
• Reef salt mixes — keep salinity stable during water changes
• Reef additives & supplements — alkalinity, calcium, and trace elements
• Water care & conditioners — for stable parameters
• Water testing kits — monitor reef parameters regularly

Are Cleaner Wrasses hard to keep?
Yes — they're considered an advanced fish. Their natural diet is parasites, dead skin, and mucus from other fish, which is hard to replicate in a tank. They must be transitioned to prepared foods like frozen mysis, brine shrimp, and high-quality pellets. They do best in mature reefs with plenty of fish to clean and a steady supply of varied foods.

Will it really clean my other fish?
Yes. Cleaner Wrasses set up cleaning stations and pick parasites and dead tissue from other fish. This natural behavior helps reduce parasite load and adds a unique dynamic to the tank, though it should not replace a proper quarantine and disease-prevention routine.

Is it reef safe?
Yes. Cleaner Wrasses do not nip corals or invertebrates. They are an excellent peaceful addition to reef aquariums.

What size will I receive?
You'll receive the size you select from the variant options above (Tiny, Small, Medium, or Large). Sizes refer to the fish at time of sale, not adult size — adults reach about 5.5 inches.