Question regarding multiple blue streak cleaner wrasse

[Tom800]

I have a 180 gallon reef tank. I just ordered 3 Blue Streak camber wrasse. I was told multiple cleaner rash are fine and such a large tank online. I’ve seen some people say it’s fine, I’ve seen a few people say that sometimes they can bother each other. I would like to get some input on keeping multiple cleaner wrasse. I have plenty of tangs to keep them busy cleaning BTW, lol

 

[Slocke]

I never suggest cleaner wrasse anymore, especially wild ones. No matter how big your tank is they will not get anywhere near as many fish to clean as they do in the wild. Also they can be very aggressive especially to certain fish.

Finally very few wrasse harems do well in the home aquarium and as cleaner wrasse are hard to sex it is even harder.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a 180 gallon reef tank. I just ordered 3 Blue Streak camber wrasse. I was told multiple cleaner rash are fine and such a large tank online. I’ve seen some people say it’s fine, I’ve seen a few people say that sometimes they can bother each other. I would like to get some input on keeping multiple cleaner wrasse. I have plenty of tangs to keep them busy cleaning BTW, lol

I say its a good chance for success as I had as many as 8 in a store display when I had my LFS with no issues and I had a pair 9+ years ago when one died from jumping and still have the other one yet

 

[exnisstech]

Single only for me and a fish I normally recommend against because they tend to perish in most tanks. My LFS doesn't even like to stock them for the same reason.
I'm on my second one after my first dove head first onto an MP40 chasing a piece of mysis. I would not considered one if i didn't have 8 tangs as well as several other fish it cleans. Also I feed frozen several times a day and the wrasse eagerly eats small pieces of that food.

EDIT: mine is in 84x30x25" tank

 

[Tom800]

So far, this is the reactions I’ve generally seen which is mixed. I have probably seen more people say that they’re fine in bigger tanks.

 

[KrisReef]

Shut the UV sterilizer off and let them feast!

I hope the trio works out with your large set up.

 

[i cant think]

So far, this is the reactions I’ve generally seen which is mixed. I have probably seen more people say that they’re fine in bigger tanks.

I have had one in a 5 foot 180G and that on it’s own was aggressive. Several will likely fight (especially if they’re fairly large and matured like most wild specimens are - the likelihood is you get all males rather than females) for several to work, opt for two juveniles rather than adults. And if you plan for other wrasses? Honestly, forget it. Mine wrecked havoc with other wrasses so it hit a point it was either going to be him or my dream tank (wrasses dominated) and well, if you’ve seen my 5 foot 180G tank, you’ll know I went wrasses and dropped the cleaner fairly quickly.

 

[Tom800]

I have had one in a 5 foot 180G and that on it’s own was aggressive. Several will likely fight (especially if they’re fairly large and matured like most wild specimens are - the likelihood is you get all males rather than females) for several to work, opt for two juveniles rather than adults. And if you plan for other wrasses? Honestly, forget it. Mine wrecked havoc with other wrasses so it hit a point it was either going to be him or my dream tank (wrasses dominated) and well, if you’ve seen my 5 foot 180G tank, you’ll know I went wrasses and dropped the cleaner fairly quickly.

Good news is that I am not a wrasse guy, so these will likely be the only wrasses

 

[Largeangels]

They can be aggressive towards each other. The more I keep these the more I think they eat particles of food floating by in the water column and clean fish as an extra food source and survival so that other fish won't eat them. Mine live for years and grow eating mostly Hikari mysis, pellet foods, some flake food and sometimes picks at the rocks or glass. But in no way really rely on food it gets from cleaning fish. They will clean a fish if they come up and ask for it but doesn't chase fish around.

All mine go through standard copper QT.

 

[Tom800]

All three are in. A little aggression towards each other but nothing crazy yet we’ll see who survives the next few days.

The cleaner wrasses are going for the tangs, picking things off them, which is what they’re supposed to do, but sometimes the tangs don’t like it, sometimes they do. I assume that the wrasses picking the parasites off, does not cause any undue stress on the tangs, correct? This is normal behavior for it to happen throughout the day, right? There’s no way they could be hurting the tangs in anyway no matter how much they go to pick the parasites off?

 

[Largeangels]

Well hopefully they don't have parasites and are just picking dead skin or something else off of them. Cleaner wrasses are not a cure for ich, velvet, etc.

Have they eaten yet? Often when I feed I keep a few pumps on so the food is floating by them in the current. Making sure there are smaller pieces for them.

I think a lot more observations need to be done for cleaner wrasses in the aquarium setting but if they aren't getting enough food throughout the day they may start to try and feed off the fish because they are hungry.

 

[Tom800]

Well hopefully they don't have parasites and are just picking dead skin or something else off of them. Cleaner wrasses are not a cure for ich, velvet, etc.

Have they eaten yet? Often when I feed I keep a few pumps on so the food is floating by them in the current. Making sure there are smaller pieces for them.

I think a lot more observations need to be done for cleaner wrasses in the aquarium setting but if they aren't getting enough food throughout the day they may start to try and feed off the fish because they are hungry.

I don’t consider cleaner wrasse as a cure, just something to aid tangs with day to day life, I was just slightly alarmed by how often they go for this naso tang and he always runs away so I just didn’t want to be causing stress to him leading to ich, but I haven’t seen anyone say that they’re harassment Does any harm to any fish.

 

[Largeangels]

Are they eating yet?

 

[Tom800]

Are they eating yet?

They are def picking off the tangs and they do go to the small frozen food particles, but it’s hard for me to tell if they swallowing it, cause of how small thier mouths are and the how small the food is.

 

[Willito]

Have they eaten food yet? Thinking of adding 2-3 into my 500g. Did you quarantine yours. Contemplating on how to 2-3 of them in a 40f

 

[Largeangels]

I’ve always qt’d mine in copper. They can be aggressive against each other so not sure how 3 would be in a 40. I’d try 2 and have a divider handy just in case.

 

[Tom800]

Have they eaten food yet? Thinking of adding 2-3 into my 500g. Did you quarantine yours. Contemplating on how to 2-3 of them in a 40f

Did not quarantine them. Two of the three died one survived, and he must be eating since he’s been alive since the end of June