Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse Labroides dimidiatus

The Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse is the smallest wrasse at some 10cm long. It is native to reefs from eastern Africa through the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. Although it is the smallest wrasse, it is a very important little fish since it has a job - a crucial job.

Like other "cleaner" wrasses, the Bluestreak clean parasites off larger fish. This gives mutual benefit of food and protection for the cleaner and a cleanup of parasites/bacteria for the "client".

Most client fish will attend a "cleaning station" run by a group of cleaner wrasse (a pair, some juveniles), but for some important clients like this Moray Eel, the cleaner comes to them.

There are other cleaner wrasses in the genus that look similar and some other small fish that mimic the cleaners for protection from predation and/or for opportunity to take a bite of the client. For example, the photo above right has the wrong face shape for a Bluestreak (and also for the False Cleanerfish, Aspidontus taeniatus, a combtooth blenny) and may be a Bluestriped Fangblenny, Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos, imitating a Cleaner Wrasse to bite a victim.