# Cleaner Wrasse (*Labroides dimidiatus*) Cleaner wrasses are small fish that help other fish by cleaning parasites off their bodies. They have bright colors and move quickly around coral reefs. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coral reefs - **Also known as:** Cleaning Wrasse, Wrasse Cleaner ![Cleaner Wrasse](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426238/objects/5994.jpg) ## Appearance The Cleaner Wrasse has an elongated body with a vibrant blue anterior, fading to a darker blue or black posterior. A distinct black stripe runs from its snout, through its eye, to its pointed tail, often bordered by a bright blue dorsal stripe. This striking pattern makes it easily identifiable among reef fish. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Teleostei - **Order:** Eupercaria incertae sedis - **Family:** Labridae - **Genus:** Labroides ## Interesting facts - Other fish will line up for their turn at a Cleaner Wrasse's 'cleaning station'! - Some Cleaner Wrasse are born female and can change into males later in life! - They can clean the inside of a huge shark's mouth without being eaten! - They're so important that if they disappear, other reef fish get sick! ## Special abilities - **Cleaning Service:** Cleaner Wrasse can meticulously remove parasites and dead skin from other fish, helping maintain reef health. - **Trust Builder:** Cleaner Wrasse has a special 'dance' to signal its cleaning intentions, building trust with larger, predatory fish. - **Predator Immunity:** Cleaner Wrasse can swim inside the mouths and gills of large predators without being eaten, thanks to its helpful cleaning role. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-12 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.02 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-4 years - **Swim Speed:** 7 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 40 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding Tiny parasites and dead skin are a Cleaner Wrasse's favorite healthy meal! - **Primary Foods:** Ectoparasites, Dead skin, Mucus - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Symbiotic with:** Giant Moray Eel (*Gymnothorax javanicus*) — Removes parasites from its mouth and gills. - **Symbiotic with:** Napoleon Wrasse (*Cheilinus undulatus*) — Cleans external parasites and dead scales off its body. - **Symbiotic with:** [Blacktip Reef Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blacktip-reef-shark) (*Carcharhinus melanopterus*) — Even cleans the skin and gills of reef sharks. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch these fish from a safe distance to not disturb their important work. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the bluestreak cleaner wrasse? Labroides dimidiatus is a small marine wrasse known for cleaning other reef fishes. It is also called the common cleanerfish. ### How can you recognize an adult bluestreak cleaner wrasse? Look for a slender fish with a pale head, blue rear body and tail, and a broad black stripe running along each side. Juveniles look different: they are black with a bright blue stripe. ### How large does a bluestreak cleaner wrasse grow? Fishes of Australia gives a maximum total length of about 12 cm, including the tail. ### Where does the bluestreak cleaner wrasse live? It occurs widely in the tropical and subtropical Red Sea and Indo-Pacific. Australian records extend roughly from Perth around the north to Sydney, with records from several offshore islands. ### What habitat does the bluestreak cleaner wrasse use? It is associated with reefs. Fishes of Australia lists a depth range of about 2–40 m; cleaning stations can occupy conspicuous places such as coral outcrops. ### What does the bluestreak cleaner wrasse eat? It picks external parasites from other fishes, especially small crustaceans such as gnathiid isopods. It also eats mucus from the clients’ skin, which can put the interests of cleaner and client in conflict. ### What is a bluestreak cleaner wrasse cleaning station? It is a place on the reef where the cleaner works and client fishes visit for parasite removal. A small social group may use the station, with a dominant male and several females. ### Why does a bluestreak cleaner wrasse perform a dance? Its characteristic swimming display advertises cleaning services to prospective client fishes. A client can then approach and allow the wrasse to inspect its body for parasites. ### Does a bluestreak cleaner wrasse always give its clients a good cleaning? Not always. In a 2003 feeding-choice experiment, cleaners preferred client mucus and parasitic flatworms over the commonly eaten gnathiid isopods. Taking a client’s protective mucus is described as cheating in this relationship. ### How do client fishes respond when a bluestreak cleaner wrasse cheats? A 2002 study found that clients often ended an interaction after a jolt associated with cleaner contact. Depending on access to other stations, clients could chase the cleaner or leave to seek another partner. ### Can a bluestreak cleaner wrasse change sex? Yes. If a group loses its male, the largest female can become male. The direction can also reverse: experiments have documented males becoming female in changed social circumstances. Sex change is influenced by social relationships. ### Why do predatory fishes allow bluestreak cleaner wrasses to approach? Predators also benefit from parasite removal and commonly tolerate cleaners during these visits. This is no guarantee of safety: a 2017 study found that cleaners retain strong escape performance, and dissatisfied clients can chase them. ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Cleaner Wrasse: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cleaner-wrasse)