Cleaner wrasse

Labroides dimidiatus Max. size: 11.5 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 4 years Environment: reef-associated; non-migratory; marine ; depth range 1 - 40 m Distribution: Gazetteer Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands; throughout Micronesia. Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10. Often with yellow back in deep water. Scales on lateral line: 50-52 ( 2 past hypural). Biology: Inhabits coral rich areas of inner lagoons and subtidal reef flats to seaward reefs. Feeds on crustacean ectoparasites and mucus of other fishes . Stays in stations where other fish come to be cleaned. Cleaning intensity is not related to client size or commonness. Cleaning stations are occupied by a pair of adults, a group of juveniles or a group of females accompanied by a dominant male where a female becomes a functional male if the dominant male disappears. Some adults solitary and territorial. An unfamiliar visitor is usually greeted by dance-like movements with the tail maneuvering the back part of the body up and down. Juveniles behave this way when divers approach closely Aquarium Care:Has a temperature range of 75 - 83°F (24 - 28°C) and has a natural diet of skin parasites. Usually does not fare well in aquariums unless there is a large population of fishes willing to be cleaned. May accept some meaty foodstuffs, and if so, requires numerous feeding per day. Probably the best for use in aquariums, however, still difficult to maintain properly. i have had these for 4 years and do a good job