The Cleaner Wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, is the most well-known of aquarium Wrasses because of its unique behavior that gives it its common name. The fish is famous for picking parasites from the skin, or even from inside the mouth and gills, of other fish. The subject fishes invite this ritual by spreading their fins, laying on their side and enjoying the cleaning that they receive. A similar looking species, Aspidontus taeniatus, poses as an impostor and actually takes bites out of trusting fishes who think they're about to be cleaned. The difference between the two species is the true Cleaner Wrasse has a terminal mouth located at the end of its snout while A. taeniatus has an under-turned mouth.

Labroides dimidiatus is an elongated fish with a white underside and blue upper half separated by a large black band running the length of the body.

Tank Setup

Being small fish, Cleaner Wrasses don't require too large of an aquarium. Large tankmates may or may not leave the Wrasse alone. If two Labroides dimidiatus are kept together they may form what is known in the hobby as a "cleaning station" where other fish can swim up and have themselves cleaned of parasites. Lone specimens tend not to do this in captivity. This species does well in the reef tank. Provide a sandy substrate for the fish to burrow in at night.

Feeding

The Cleaner Wrasse should not have to rely on parasites alone for its food. It can be easily encouraged to take other meaty foods such as finely chopped shrimp, flake foods and freeze dried foods.

Water Chemistry

The fish should be kept in water of high quality, with frequent water changes made. Keep the pH high, around 8.4, and the salinity between 1.023 and 1.027.

Breeding

It is not uncommon for a pair to spawn in captivity, though success is rare. Little information is known except that spawning takes place at night with the female of the species laying several free-floating eggs which are then fertilized by the male.