Cleaner Wrasse-Defence Mechanisms-
Despite the Cleaner Wrasse's supposed lack of natural predators, these Wrasse do have defense mechanisms which would come in great handy if they were to be attacked.
Cleaner Wrasse are quick and agile swimmers, which allows them to quickly weave in and out of coral crevices, if a predator were to attack. Also, Cleaner Wrasse are diurnal and are one of the few species of fish which can actually go to sleep. In order to go to sleep without the risk of being caught or attacked by a predator, at night time these Wrasse burrow into sand at the seafloor and produce a mucous cocoon in order to conceal themselves from potential threats.
Cleaner Wrasse are quick and agile swimmers, which allows them to quickly weave in and out of coral crevices, if a predator were to attack. Also, Cleaner Wrasse are diurnal and are one of the few species of fish which can actually go to sleep. In order to go to sleep without the risk of being caught or attacked by a predator, at night time these Wrasse burrow into sand at the seafloor and produce a mucous cocoon in order to conceal themselves from potential threats.
FIRST PERSON EVIDENCE-
While snorkelling in the Whitsundays, I witnessed a Cleaner Wrasse cleaning a Parrot Fish. Unfortunately, this particular Parrot Fish did not take the Cleaner Wrasse's service well and was clearly agitated by the Wrasse persistently cleaning their body, so this Parrot Fish decided to chase away the Cleaner Wrasse. As soon as the Parrot Fish made advances toward the Cleaner Wrasse, the Wrasse was on his way, using his supreme quickness and agility to get out of a hostile situation. While this particular Cleaner Wrasse was not in any real danger from the Parrot Fish, this evidence demonstrates just how important and effective of a defence mechanism the Wrasse's speed and agility is, even when only minorly threatened.
Above is a Cleaner Wrasse fearlessly cleaning a large fish