Cleaner wrasse behaviour

[Raphael Dalmeida]

Hey guys I've added this blue streak cleaner wrasse to the tank last month.

Great news is he eats like a pig.

But during feeding time he pesters my anampses melanurus wrasse that has been in the tank way longer than him.

He really chases him aggressively, only during feeding time.

Should I be worried? Also the cleaner wrasse is a lazy one, got some tangs and an emperor but I don't see any cleaning happening.

It's a 6ft tank with plenty of rocks for the fish to hide. I have other wrasses, sixline, lineatus, Carpenter, but the only one he chases is the anampses.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@Slocke

 

[Slocke]

Hey guys I've added this blue streak cleaner wrasse to the tank last month.

Great news is he eats like a pig.

But during feeding time he pesters my anampses melanurus wrasse that has been in the tank way longer than him.

He really chases him aggressively, only during feeding time.

Should I be worried? Also the cleaner wrasse is a lazy one, got some tangs and an emperor but I don't see any cleaning happening.

It's a 6ft tank with plenty of rocks for the fish to hide. I have other wrasses, sixline, lineatus, Carpenter, but the only one he chases is the anampses.

I’ve had this exact problem with all the spotted Anampses wrasses. I think it’s the spots but maybe it’s the similar body shape. Unfortunately I was forced to separate as the cleaner was doing serious damage.

 

[Largeangels]

Haven’t had any Anampses wrasses in a while but don’t remember the cleaner wrasses bothering them. I’m guessing for some reason they are that fish as competition compared to the others.

My cleaner wrasses rarely clean and mostly only if the fish come up to be cleaned. They act more like regular wrasses eating whatever is in the water column floating by. I think they are great fish with lots of personality and always swimming.

 

[Raphael Dalmeida]

I’ve had this exact problem with all the spotted Anampses wrasses. I think it’s the spots but maybe it’s the similar body shape. Unfortunately I was forced to separate as the cleaner was doing serious damage.

dang, I think it's maybe a combination also the way it swims is similar to the cleaner wrasse

I will observe for now they seem fine and only once in a while there's a chase. If it wasn't for the net the melanurus would already have been gone.

Hope they establish a pecking order otherwise will have to do as you said and separate.