Cleaner Wrasse

[Steven91]

I just got a cleaner wrasse in my tank today, beautiful color and good size, though currently he is harassing my magnificent foxface. I know cleaner wrasses help go after parasites and "clean" the fish, but right now he is going around the eyes and mouth of foxface, and a little of the gills. The foxface is flexing its spines, so I'm not sure if the foxface is getting annoyed or what. Is this normal for a cleaner wrasse?

 

[KJ]

Is this normal for a cleaner wrasse?

Yes don't worry hi is doing his job;)

 

[Steven91]

Yes don't worry hi is doing his job;)

Awesome thank you

 

[KJ]

Awesome thank you

YW;)

 

[evolved]

The foxface is flexing its spines, so I'm not sure if the foxface is getting annoyed or what.

For sure, and this is one of the issue cleaner wrasses can pose.
How large is the tank, and are there other large fish in the tank for the cleaner wrasse to service? If not, then it may pester the foxface to the point of effecting its health.

 

[Steven91]

It's a 120 and I do have a flame angel that is the same size as my foxface

 

[KJ]

I had a cleaner wrasse for about 6 years,every new new fish that I introduced to my tank, he tried to go after for a week or so and then he would lose interest.What was so funny the other fish would come up to him and want him to give them a weekly physical:D and he would just swim off and didn`t pay attention anymore.They would then follow him around and beg him for a quick checkup. That was my experience with that. Every fish is different, that is just my experience with the cleaner wrasse.

 

[Salty1962]

You could also have a False Cleaner Wrasse, I got one a while back as a cleaner. Didn't know it wasn't until after I'd release it;Rage Pestered my fish and took for ever to catch. The tail pattern is different.

 

[Steven91]

You could also have a False Cleaner Wrasse, I got one a while back as a cleaner. Didn't know it wasn't until after I'd release it;Rage Pestered my fish and took for ever to catch. The tail pattern is different.

Hmm, I hope I dont have a false cleaner though now he seemed to calm down a little. I'll keep my eye on him and sees what happen. I don't want to lose my beautiful foxface over a cleaner wrasse

 

[Salty1962]

Hmm, I hope I dont have a false cleaner though now he seemed to calm down a little. I'll keep my eye on him and sees what happen. I don't want to lose my beautiful foxface over a cleaner wrasse

He won't kill it, just pester it and your other fish. If you see it bothering your other fish you may want to look at it closer.

 

[Steven91]

He won't kill it, just pester it and your other fish. If you see it bothering your other fish you may want to look at it closer.

Thanks, I'll just keep a careful eye on him for the next few days and see how he does