Cleaner Fish
ExploreFish
Cleaner Fish
Cleaner fish remove parasites and other material from other fishes. The name describes a role performed by several kinds of fish, including certain wrasses and gobies, rather than one species.
Habitat: Varies by species; reef-cleaning examples live on coral and rocky reefs.
Appearance
Cleaner fish do not share one colour pattern. The bluestreak cleaner wrasse has a broad dark stripe along its sides, but that pattern does not identify every fish that performs cleaning.
Cleaner fish do not share one colour pattern. The bluestreak cleaner wrasse has a broad dark stripe along its sides, but that pattern does not identify every fish that performs cleaning.
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
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Interesting facts
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Diet & Feeding
They can eat external parasites and dead skin from clients. Some, including Labroides dimidiatus, also eat client mucus, so every bite does not necessarily benefit the fish being cleaned.
Traits
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Watch cleaner fish from a safe distance and never disturb them while they work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cleaner fish one species?
No. Cleaner fish are fishes that feed by removing material from other animals. Different species perform this role, so there is no single scientific species name for the whole group.
Which kinds of fish act as cleaner fish?
Certain wrasses and gobies act as cleaners. The bluestreak cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, is one well-studied example; it is a member of the broader group.
What do cleaner fish eat?
They can eat external parasites and dead skin from clients. Some, including Labroides dimidiatus, also eat client mucus, so every bite does not necessarily benefit the fish being cleaned.
What is a cleaner fish cleaning station?
It is a place where clients gather to be cleaned. A visiting fish may open its mouth or spread its gill covers, giving the cleaner access to those areas.
Do all cleaner fish remain at one cleaning station?
No. Reef studies distinguish station-holding cleaners such as Labroides dimidiatus from more widely roaming cleaners such as Labroides bicolor. Cleaning behaviour varies between species.
Can cleaner fish be recognised by one stripe or colour?
No. A stripe can help identify a particular cleaner species, but cleaning is a behaviour, not a single colour pattern. The species and its behaviour both matter.
Are cleaner shrimps also cleaner fish?
No. Cleaner shrimps perform a similar service, but they are crustaceans. Wrasses and gobies are fish, so the two groups should be distinguished even when they use cleaning stations.
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