Description
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The Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) is a small, colorful marine fish belonging to the family Labridae. It is commonly found in the tropical coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the western and central Pacific Ocean.
Appearance: Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse is characterized by its vibrant coloration, which consists of a predominantly blue body with a yellow stripe running horizontally from the head to the tail. They have a slender and elongated shape with a pointed snout. Juvenile cleaner wrasses have more prominent yellow markings and might display some black spots on their blue body. As they mature, these spots tend to disappear.
Behavior: Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse is renowned for its symbiotic cleaning behavior. They are known as cleaner fish because they provide a cleaning service to other fish species by removing parasites, dead skin, and mucous from their bodies. This cleaning behavior is essential for maintaining the health and hygiene of other reef fish.
The cleaner wrasses set up cleaning stations where other fish approach them to be cleaned. They perform distinctive body movements and signals to attract potential clients. The client fish then adopt specific postures to signal they seek cleaning, and the cleaner wrasse meticulously cleans them, often entering their gill chambers and mouth.
Diet: Apart from their cleaning services, Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse also feed on small invertebrates, including crustaceans and zooplankton.
Conservation:
As with many marine species, Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse face various threats due to human activities, such as overfishing, pollution, and the degradation of coral reefs. Proper management and conservation efforts are crucial to ensure the survival of these beautiful and ecologically important fish.
- Care level: Expert
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Carnivore
- Reef Compatible: Yes
- Family: Labridae
- Minimum Tank Size: 90 gallons
- Size: 2 inches