Cleaner Wrasse

R

rcreations

Guest
I remember reading that cleaner wrasses don't live long in captivity. Yet I've had this cleaner wrasse for a little over 3 months now and it has grown and is fat. It eats pretty much everything I put in the tank. Anyone know if it's just some particular types that don't do well?
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
It seems I have read that they are one of those fish that do well for a while then one day stop eating and die. Besides that they are so beneficial to the reef eco that they are better left to the ocean. Hope yours continues to do well for you but the odds are against it.
 
jbird0420

jbird0420

Member
Had mine for 4 months and counting...Yes, they eat like pigs and have doubled in size since I got mine!

Originally Posted by RCreations
http:///forum/post/2866680
I remember reading that cleaner wrasses don't live long in captivity. Yet I've had this cleaner wrasse for a little over 3 months now and it has grown and is fat. It eats pretty much everything I put in the tank. Anyone know if it's just some particular types that don't do well?
 
R

rcreations

Guest
That's very strange. Hard to believe such an energetic fish would all of a sudden stop eating. Did you ever see your wrasse cleaning other fish? Mine does it all the time. Even though I don't see what it cleans but it must find something.
 
R

rcreations

Guest
lol, same here. It's like a pest to all my fish, constantly following them around. It's made my dogface puffer puff up twice now.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
They typically die of malnutrition, not a lack of food. It may take a year, maybe longer. You can live a long time on potato chips.
They can be easily kept in captivity, that's not the problem. All they need are a dozen or so large (10"+) fish to clean other than Tangs. Tangs don't count because they don't have enough slime coating.
These fish are desperately needed in the wild so IMO removing them is just a bad idea. Try Tank bred Neon Gobies if you like having a cleaner fish with those colors.
 
jbird0420

jbird0420

Member
Those lil suckers will also pic at my arm as I hand feed my fish. Feels like lil pins poking my arm..LOL!
Of course, my puffer bit the heck out of my thumb the other day while I was feeding him. That's what happens after a few beers and krill in da hand!
 
R

rcreations

Guest
It'd be a shame to loose this little guy. He's entertaining to watch how he annoys all the other fish. Like he'll chase my yellow wrasse around all over the tank, then he'll move on to the puffer, then the trigger.
Has no fear of any fish. But if he does die, I won't buy another one.
 
jbird0420

jbird0420

Member
Yup! I have 2 and they chase my Lunare Wrasse around the tank. It's funny to see a small version of the wrasse species chase his bigger bro! It's like watchin a Chihuahua chase a Doberman around the yard! Too Funny!
 
lkgrenegade22

lkgrenegade22

Member
Same here. I have had mine for probably 2-3 months and he is doing great. The only reason I even bought him was because the LFS I got him from had one in one of their big display tanks and I watched him for 30 minutes I bet. Now since I have gotten him home he cleans and chases the other fish and eats anything you drop you in the tank. When he dies I won't buy another one since I learned of the importance of them after I had bought him. However, while neon gobys are cool and have the same basic color scheme along with the cleaning ability they are not even comparable enjoyment wise to watching a cleaner wrasse work. The gobys are small and not nearly as animated.
 
nina&noah

nina&noah

Member
I tried several neon gobies. I really like them, but I can't keep them alive. They don't make it more than a week in my tank and then they vanish!

I tried one cleaner wrasse a while ago and it didn't make it a week either. Cleaners just don't do well in my tank for whatever reason.
 
bullitr

bullitr

Active Member
i have my cleaner for 4 months now with 11 large tangs and it eats flakes very well too. i don't think its going to starve in my tank . imo its hit and miss with this fish. i had everything from red sea to indo cleaner wrasse to neon gobies ,so far this is my only success one . if they eat pellets/ flakes in the lfs and you have lots of tang it might be successful and remember angelman he have his for 2 years on his rare angel tank
 
lkgrenegade22

lkgrenegade22

Member
Originally Posted by nina&noah
http:///forum/post/2868066
I tried several neon gobies. I really like them, but I can't keep them alive. They don't make it more than a week in my tank and then they vanish!

I tried one cleaner wrasse a while ago and it didn't make it a week either. Cleaners just don't do well in my tank for whatever reason.

I bought 3 neon gobys and 2 of them jumped out....
 
lkgrenegade22

lkgrenegade22

Member
I'm not putting any eggcrate over the top of my tank. I guess I will go ahead and find me a canopy before I throw all the fish back in.
 
doggiepuffer

doggiepuffer

Member
From my understanding there are two types of clearner wrasses. There is the one that does not typically do well, unless you have alot of sick fish and there is a second type that will also eat flake food. I learned this couple weeks ago when myself and another friend went to a SW Warehouse in Dayton, OH.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by bullitr
http:///forum/post/2868228
i have my cleaner for 4 months now with 11 large tangs and it eats flakes very well too. i don't think its going to starve in my tank . imo its hit and miss with this fish. i had everything from red sea to indo cleaner wrasse to neon gobies ,so far this is my only success one . if they eat pellets/ flakes in the lfs and you have lots of tang it might be successful and remember angelman he have his for 2 years on his rare angel tank

If you still have the Wrasse a year from now please let me know. I did not think Tangs had enough slime to feed a Cleaner Wrasse. If yours is still alive this time next year then I may change my mind.
 
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