Today, marine aquarium keepers face the challenge of providing immaculate water conditions for their pet marine inhabitants. A hobbyist is forced to be familiar with topics, like mineralization, pH balance, specific gravity, and parts per million, in order to achieve a successful marine aquatic environment. The aquarist acquires satisfaction when balance is achieved, and disappointment when unwanted and sometimes unexpected diseases appear.

Labroides dimidiatus

The true marine hobbyist immediately rushes to the aid of a disease stricken fish by providing medication and quarantine techniques. Unfortunately, sometimes death appears when the hobbyist has misdiagnosed or treated a disease too late. As marine hobbyists, we are taught that the best way to avoid this unwarranted outcome is to be proactive by providing ideal water conditions. The reality is that we are human and mistakes are bound to happen.

Mother nature has provided us with a little friend, the cleaner wrasse (labroides dimidiatus), to naturally combat the parasitic diseases that challenge and sometimes destroy our hobby.

The natural assistant originates from the Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea through to the central Pacific Ocean. This amazing creature is our biggest ally against the onslaught of parasites by eating them off other marine fish. Once acclimated to your marine environment, the cleaner wrasse services marine clients daily by ridding them of parasites on their mouths, gills, and bodies. If two specimens are kept, the natural assistants will mimic their natural behavior by setting up a cleaning station. Marine clients will tilt their head to signal the cleaner wrasse to begin when the time comes for servicing. This very necessary act also provides a staple diet to the natural assistant. The wrasse also feeds on small meaty foods to complete its diet.

The slender creature with horizontal and light blue bands can grow to the size of four inches in the wild and two inches in captivity. The assistant can be placed in an invertebrate aquarium, and thrives in a community tank. Its ease of keeping for beginners ranks high in the aquarium world, and the wrasse is safe with other small marine fishes. The cleaner wrasse swims at all levels and prefers an aquarium temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The natural assistant’s breeding method is currently unknown and is rarely aquarium-bred. Beware of placing the cleaner wrasse with aggressive fish, for example the niger trigger (Odonus niger), because a death may appear, one not caused by disease.

Marine hobbyists can use the skills of the cleaner wrasse to better their aquatic environment; however, one must remember to use the talents of our natural assistant as a second priority to preventing parasitic diseases. The first priority should always be maintaining ideal water conditions (consistent water changes, water testing, filter maintenance, and temperature levels). With the aid of our cleaner wrasse, marine aquarists can successfully control the catastrophic outbreak of parasitic diseases while enjoying the beauty of this magnificent creature.

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