Labroides dimidiatus

(Valenciennes, 1839)

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa, Line, Marquesan and Ducie Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to Lord Howe and Rapa Island.

Size: 5 inches (14 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoons and seaward reefs where it sets up cleaning stations usually near large overhangs or caves near reef edges, and usually found at depths between 6 – 65 feet (2 – 20 m) where it cleans fishes of skin parasites and will also eat fish scales and fish mucus.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade with males and females having a silvery body turning somewhat blue mid-body to the tail, and having a wedge-shaped black patch beginning on the snout and widening towards the tail.

Usually does not fare well in reef or fish-only aquariums unless there is a large population of fishes willing to be cleaned. May accept some frozen meaty foodstuffs, such as adult brine shrimp and/or fortified adult live brine shrimp.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Labridae

Genus: Labroides

FYI: Will annoy tankmates.

May pick on tridacna clam mantles causing their demise.

May jump out of uncovered aquariums.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Bothersome

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5