Cleaner Wrasse – Philippines

Labroides dimidiatus

The Cleaner Wrasse is known for its vibrant colors and unique behavior. These small but mighty fish play a crucial role in maintaining the health of reef ecosystems. Famous for their cleaning services, they remove parasites and dead skin from larger fish. Often darting around the mouths and gills of bigger fish, cleaner wrasses are true unsung heroes of the ocean, helping keep their underwater neighbors free from unwanted guests. With their playful nature and essential role, they make a fascinating addition to any freshwater or marine tank. Due to their tendency to jump, a tightly fitting, escape-proof lid is highly recommended. While the Cleaner Wrasse thrives by cleaning other fish, it may also accept frozen meaty foods, such as adult brine shrimp and fortified live brine shrimp. Reaching up to 5 inches in length, it requires a minimum tank size of 75 gallons. In the wild, this species is found throughout the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Line, Marquesan, and Ducie Islands. They are also found north of Southern Japan and south to Lord Howe and Rapa Island, with this fish being collected near the Philippines. Cleaner Wrasses typically inhabit lagoons and seaward reefs, setting up cleaning stations at depths of up to 65 feet.