The leopard wrasse has fascinated me for awhile now ever since I saw the two swimming around in the Aquadome show tank. It just about flipped when I found out I could get one already acclimated to tank life. She picked a perfect spot in the back corner of my tank where there are no corals to burrow every night. I just see her swim into the back corner and then a giant cloud of dust rises and that's my signal that it's time for bed.
I would have never bought a cleaner wrasse as they are better served in the ocean where they belong since they are such pivotal members of the reef community. They are a key part of keeping natural fish populations pest free from external parasites and their removal could be detrimental to the community health. They also have dismal survival rates in captivity as well. I figured since it's been alive for the better part of a year in the tank, I'd give it a shot. It's happily cruising the tank and eating almost anything I throw in the tank. I catch it constantly cleaning and picking at its tankmate and doing the job it was built for. Odd thing, but it loves nori! I threw a sheet in there and as usual, the tangs destroyed it and as the little pieces flake off, the other fish usually pick those off instead of getting into the tang feeding frenzy. This little guy dives right in the scrum with 6 large tangs and doesn't bat a fish eyelash... if those even exists. I guess cleaner wrasses were raised with a little crazy in them if they are often seen in nature cleaning some fish that would easily make a snack out of them. Oh, I missed a spot right by your back teeth. Let me get that for you.