Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Cocos-Keeling Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to Line and Pitcairn Islands, north to Bonin Islands, and south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 4 inches (11 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoons and seaward reefs where it sets up cleaning stations usually near major coral growths, and usually found at depths between 6 – 100 feet (2 – 30 m) where it cleans fishes of skin parasites and will also eat fish scales and fish mucus.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having yellow on the head and a black spot below the pectoral fin.
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 live fortified adult 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