Cleaner Wrasse-Feeding Habits-
Like many other members of the Wrasse family, Cleaner Wrasse are carnivores. However, what Cleaner Wrasse eat and how they get their food is unique to all other members of the Labridae Family. Cleaner Wrasse are known for setting up 'cleaning stations' for larger fish (thus the name Cleaner Wrasse). While this process may look to be a simple service by the Cleaner Wrasse, it is in fact the very symbiotic relationship which keeps Cleaner Wrasse and indeed other fish alive and thriving.
Cleaner Wrasse primarily feed on Parasitic Copepods and other small invertebrates. These Copepods are notorious for infecting all types of fish by developing moving appendages with their fish host, which allows them to move freely over the surface of the host and gives them the ability to move from fish to fish. These Copepods are also known to penetrate deep into the tissue of the host fish, where they are anchored and invade the host's circulatory system in order to gain nutrients. The unrelenting, parasitic nature of these Copepods can be compared to the on land equivalents of flees or head lice. Cleaner Wrasse feed on these Parasites and thus keep the wider fish community healthy by setting up 'cleaning stations' around the reef. These stations are usually located on coral reefs around one to three meters bellow the water's surface and are usually permanently occupied by one to three Cleaner Wrasse. The Wrasse manning the station use strange, repetitive movements to attract fish for cleaning. Once a fish is present at the station, Cleaner Wrasse clean both the inside and outside of the cleaning patron. The fish at the station opens its mouth and gill cavities and freely allows Wrasse to enter these openings and clean out any parasites and diseased tissue that is present.
Cleaner Wrasse greatly service other fish in order to gain nutrients and stay healthy. What makes this mutual relationship even more astounding is considering that Cleaner Wrasse are cleaning other, much larger carnivores (such as reef sharks, eels etc.), which would usually gobble up fish of the same size with ease. What Cleaner Wrasse eat and how they get it is very unique in the Labridae family and is a great demonstration of symbiotic relationships and mutual benefit in the reef.
Cleaner Wrasse primarily feed on Parasitic Copepods and other small invertebrates. These Copepods are notorious for infecting all types of fish by developing moving appendages with their fish host, which allows them to move freely over the surface of the host and gives them the ability to move from fish to fish. These Copepods are also known to penetrate deep into the tissue of the host fish, where they are anchored and invade the host's circulatory system in order to gain nutrients. The unrelenting, parasitic nature of these Copepods can be compared to the on land equivalents of flees or head lice. Cleaner Wrasse feed on these Parasites and thus keep the wider fish community healthy by setting up 'cleaning stations' around the reef. These stations are usually located on coral reefs around one to three meters bellow the water's surface and are usually permanently occupied by one to three Cleaner Wrasse. The Wrasse manning the station use strange, repetitive movements to attract fish for cleaning. Once a fish is present at the station, Cleaner Wrasse clean both the inside and outside of the cleaning patron. The fish at the station opens its mouth and gill cavities and freely allows Wrasse to enter these openings and clean out any parasites and diseased tissue that is present.
Cleaner Wrasse greatly service other fish in order to gain nutrients and stay healthy. What makes this mutual relationship even more astounding is considering that Cleaner Wrasse are cleaning other, much larger carnivores (such as reef sharks, eels etc.), which would usually gobble up fish of the same size with ease. What Cleaner Wrasse eat and how they get it is very unique in the Labridae family and is a great demonstration of symbiotic relationships and mutual benefit in the reef.
A Cleaner Wrasse eating parasites off of an Angel Fish.
A tiny Parasitic Copepod, the primary element of a Cleaner Wrasse's diet.