Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Labroides dimidiatus

The bluestreak cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus (Valenciennes, 1839) is a beautiful fish with bold coloration and unique eating habits.  In the wild, cleaner wrasses earn their name by cleaning parasites off other fish.  Their natural diet consists of mucus and slime coats, scales, and ectoparasites.  Even predatory fish are aware of this quality and will allow themselves to be cleaned without harming these wrasses.  Because of this specialized diet, the bluestreak cleaner wrasse has a reputation of poor survival in captivity, as it can be difficult to transition their diet to prepared foods.  At the Sustainable Islands project, however, we easily transition these fish onto our hatchery diet, Spirulina brine, and cyclopeeze.  Their appetites are so voracious that these wrasses will beg for food when we walk by!  Cleaner wrasses do best when housed in a reef system with sand and rockwork.  They are usually reef safe but may occasionally nip at clam mantles, causing them to close.

Physical Description– The bluestreak cleaner wrasse has a black line running down the center of its body.  Above and below the line is white coloration starting at the head, and transitioning to bright blue towards the tail, thus giving it the appearance of a blue streak.  Both its dorsal and anal fin have a black line intersecting blue.

Temperament– This fish is very peaceful and gets along with other peaceful tank mates.  They will even be tolerated by more aggressive fish, as they are recognized as parasite cleaners.  Even cleaner wrasses that have been fully transitioned onto prepared foods will clean their tankmates.  They will fight with others of their kind, so only one should be kept per system.

Size– The bluestreak cleaner wrasse can grow to a maximum size of 4.5” and should be housed in a 55-gallon aquarium or larger.

Diet– Their natural diet consists of mucus and slime coats, scales, and ectoparasites. At the Sustainable Islands project, however, we easily transition these fish onto our Hatchery Diet, Spirulina brine, and cyclopeeze.

Distribution– This fish has a wide range from the coast of East Africa through the Indo Pacific.