Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Central Pacific Ocean: Hawaiian and Johnston Islands.
Size: 5 inches (12 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits various reef zones where they set up cleaning stations and usually found at depths between 3 – 300 feet (1 – 90 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 forward body, with a brownish black line beginning on the snout and turning into a wide deep purple wedge on the aft body and extending onto the tail, with its top and bottom lobes edged in bright purple.
Usually does not fare well in 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: ul>
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Labridae
Genus: Labroides
FYI: Will annoy tankmates.
May jump out of uncovered aquariums.
Sleeps in a mucous cocoon at night.
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