New Cleaner Wrasse

[naesco]

Like I said, several posters who have been successful will post.

Here is what a couple of expert fish authors have written.
Robert Fenner
This is the genus of obligate Cleaner Wrasses most celebrated for establishing stations in the wild that are frequented by "local" reef fishes and pelagics for removing parasites and necrotic tissue. Perhaps shocking to most aquarists, all the Labroides rate a dismal (3) in survivability, even the ubiquitously offered common or Blue Cleaner Wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus. None of the Labroides should be removed, not only for the fact that almost all perish within a few weeks of wild capture, but for the valuable role they play as cleaners.

Scott Michael
These wrasses are engaging fishes, but conscientious reef aquarists should refuse to purchase them.

I agree 100% with Osprey.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

I have had three different ones now. First one lived in my tanks for three years before jumping Second one lived with the first one for about 8 months before being eaten by a Lion fish (in front of me) and the current one is...I think 8 months too now and fine.

I do hear they can be hard to keep but I have found them to be easier than many other species of wrasse.

[JDigital]

I've only had one, and not by choice, that ended up in a tank too small with not nearly enough/large enough fish to clean, and died after about 6months. I really do think it would still be alive if it had been in a larger tank with more/bigger fish to clean/feed from.

I won't own another one for the simple fact that I think they are rather ugly fish. Not because I don't think I could keep it alive "long term".

[phillybean]

I'll keep everyone updated on how it goes. Given how much he is eating, I do feel that I should be able to keep him alive. I think he is a awesome looking fish.

I have researched them in the past so I know the issues with them.

Every fish in the reef is important to it. I do not feel that the responsibility of buying only "certain" fish should be on us. If Robert Fenner and Scott Michael feel that they should not be purchases, they should deal with Whole Salers or even countries to ban the collection of them. The fact of the matter is, if a fish is in the store, healthy, eating and I feel that my tank will be a good fit for it and if I want it, I will buy it.

I prefer to purchase "aquacultured/bred" fish and corals whenever possible, however as we all know "aquabred" fish are not as common in the hobby as we would like to see. Given that such a small percentage of reefers are dedicated as much as the ones on Canreef, do research on the fish and strive to make their tank as fitting as possible for the creatures living in it, I feel good knowing that this fish has a better chance of surviving in my tank than it will in others.

[naesco]

Philybean posted
I do not feel that the responsibility of buying only "certain" fish should be on us. If Robert Fenner and Scott Michael feel that they should not be purchases, they should deal with Whole Salers or even countries to ban the collection of them. The fact of the matter is, if a fish is in the store, healthy, eating and I feel that my tank will be a good fit for it and if I want it, I will buy it.``

Fortunately, most reefers do not agree with you. Most reefers strive to obtain optimal conditions for the critters they keep.

IMO the responsibility to ensure that the fish/coral can reasonably survive in captive conditions is on you and only you.
Think about it!!

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by naesco

Like I said, several posters who have been successful will post. .....

You missed the point. Redefine the definition of "long term". A week or two to a couple of months is not long term, IMO. If I have my current Cleaner for 3+ years, then I will consider it a success. Until then, the jury is still deliberating.

You also missed the part where I admitted to failing on the second wrasse, due to my own neglect of not feeding the resident fish first before the wrasse went in the tank.

Cheers,

[spoot]

Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer

You missed the point. Redefine the definition of "long term". A week or two to a couple of months is not long term, IMO. If I have my current Cleaner for 3+ years, then I will consider it a success. Until then, the jury is still deliberating.

You also missed the part where I admitted to failing on the second wrasse, due to my own neglect of not feeding the resident fish first before the wrasse went in the tank.

Cheers,

I've had mine for about 6 months, and he is perfectly healthy and regularly molting. Eats anything he can get his hands on. Pretty sure he helped polish off a goby that went missing. I wouldn't consider success either if it has not live more than 3 years in my care.

[Powertec]

Originally Posted by spoot

I've had mine for about 6 months, and he is perfectly healthy and regularly molting. Eats anything he can get his hands on. Pretty sure he helped polish off a goby that went missing. I wouldn't consider success either if it has not live more than 3 years in my care.

You must be talking about a cleaner shrimp not a cleaner wrasse as i have never seen a wrasse molt.

[0sprey]

Alot of our tanks are better homes for these fish than most LFS stores. Wouldn't you rather see a CW taken home and given much better conditions/chances of survival than those at a LFS. It's already out of the ocean, and no chance of going back, so yea there is more than the responsibility of ME to take action against collection. I'm not saying the systems at a LFS are horrible, but in comparison there is ALOT more "in/out" activity, greater stress levels, and ich/disease, than most of our tanks at home.

The real problem with that philosophy is that, by purchasing the fish, you are creating a market for it. So they'll order another one... and another... and another. So long as they can sell them, they'll keep bringing them in. Demand creates the harvest; the fish don't just end up in the shop automatically.
Unfortunately, many people are convinced that they need a cleaner wrasse to have a healthy system... so I don't see demand for them falling to a standstill any time soon.

[lammarkk]

I guess they just need time to get along...
My fishes didnt like my cleaner wrasse when I first introduced her to my tank...