Labroides rubrolabiatus

Randall, 1958

Redlip Cleaner Wrasse

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Samoa to the Line and Society Islands, and the Pitcairn Islands.

Size: 3 inches (9 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow lagoon and reef areas where they set up cleaning stations and usually found at depths between 3 – 100 feet (1 – 30 m) where it cleans fishes of skin parasites and will also eat fish scales and fish mucus.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade with males and females having darkish stripe from the snout onto to the front body where it fades into a darkish yellow, and a black tail with its upper and lower lobes edged in white.

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 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