Cleaner Wrasse Surprise

[jawwad2004]

I bought a cleaner wrasse about a few weeks ago, just for the heck of it, thinking that it would die right away because it only eats parasites, but to my surprise, he eats the brine shrimp I feed the rest of the fish? I hope I dont jynx myself, cuz I really like this guy and often see him doing his job on my tangs, but is there anyone out there who has kept a cleaner wrasse for a long period of time?

 

[jenniebutterfly]

never had a cleaner wrasse, but one word of advice. you should not buy something if you think it won't make it. there are so many stores that sell things that really should be left in the ocean because they are so hard to take care of. when you buy these things, the stores buy more and the cycle continues. good luck to you though since it is eating the brine, but you should also try mysis, brine is kinda like a chocolate bar to the fish, it makes a nice treat, but there really is no nutritional value to it at all.

 

[jhale]

Jenn is right eating brine shrimp is like living off iceberg lettuce, it will fill you up, but the fish is getting zero nutritional value from it.
the only way to make that scenario work is to soak the brine shrimp in selcon.
otherwise try to find something else the fish will eat. check out formula one frozen cubes, many picky fish will go for that.
and I second not buying a fish your not sure you can care for.

 

[Ronen]

hi,, I have 3 cleaner in my tank ,,they eat everything i give my fish to eat ,,as well as seaweed , ,,,i dont find them to hard to keep although they are not hardy fish ,,i have them for over 6 months ,

 

[Missy Johnson]

I thought they had a short lifespan (even in wild) - like 6 mos?

 

[Crakeur lost his password]

if you feed the brine prior to dumping them in the tank, won't you be stuffing them full of nutritionally valuable food?

 

[DEEPWATER]

i dont know how long they live ,,but mine are about 6 months ,,and they still eat parasite off the fish ,,they are hungry little guys ,lol. but i hope they live longer they are cool ,,all 3 swim together doing there good deed for the day i think you need to feed them 3 time a day ,,but i only feed 2ce and very little ,,i have about 14 fish so they have enuff to clean ,2 yellow tangs are the biggest (2 1/2 " long the others are smaller,goby.fish like that ,,)..