Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse

Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse, Larabicus quadrilineatus, are adorable fish, that also go by the name Four Lined Wrasse. They are dark blue in colour and have a pointed snout. A pair of dazzling neon blue stripes decorate both sides of the fish. Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse, Larabicus quadrilineatus, Ecology. These fish live in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, in the West Indian Ocean. Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse live on the edges of coral reefs. They swim around in loose groups, darting amongst the coral branches, or other places they hold as cleaning stations. As juveniles, these fish have a mutualistic relationship with its neighbours on the reef. As the name suggests, Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse feed on small parasitic crustaceans that they pick off the bodies of larger fish. They signal their availability as a cleaner by doing a dance. As a result of this behaviour, these fish can be useful to have in a marine tank. We recommend asking a member of staff if pest control is what you are after. As adults these fish will forage for themselves and pick at certain corals. We recommend asking a member of staff if considering getting a red sea wrasse but concerned about coral too. Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse are also protogynous hermaphrodites. Which means that, when they get old enough, breeding females turn into a male. As a result, all juveniles are immature females. Four Lined Wrasse In The Aquarium. It is important to imitate the natural environment and provide plenty of nooks and crannies for the wrasse to hide in. Hobbyists should invest in a jump guard to prevent any unfortunate mishaps. Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse do best when fed a varied diet. They will accept enriched frozen mysis shrimp and enriched frozen brine shrimp. We enrich all our frozen food with garlic and vitamins. These are great for keeping fish healthy by providing them with the nutrition otherwise lost in frozen food. In doing so, these additives support their immune system and increase longevity. They will also devour live foods, such as copepods and amphipods, that can be cultivated in attached refugium. Over time they will accept high-quality pellet or flake. We adapt all our wrasse to aquarium life before they leave us. We focus on their health, and most are eating a good quality flake food and/or pellet, before being offered for sale. Receiving Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse via specialist licensed livestock courier. When it comes to showing distress, some fish don’t let on, while others wear their heart on their sleeves. The Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse, is one of those more dramatic fish. Here at the Abyss, we pride ourselves on our reputation for providing healthy livestock, that are well accustomed to life in the home aquarium. We have a very rigorous process for preparing our livestock for sale and a thorough packing process to help ensure our customers receive fish to be proud of. When it comes to shipping out, no expense is spared to ensure the safety and comfort of our stock while they are on the way to you. Even so, It is important to remember that, being brought home the same day from your local fish store, is a very different experience from being sealed in complete and true darkness, then travelling overnight. For example, the simple action of lifting your new pet into a lit environment, from the pitch black can be a shock to them. Remember, they don’t have eye lids to shield themselves. As a result, it is entirely likely you may see some species demonstrate odd behaviour or strange patterns. These are all natural behaviours for this Wrasse. Either by being basic responses (ie, breathing faster due to increased heart rate), or an adaptation to help aid survival in the wild (ie, colour change to help camouflage or even staying completely motionless and limp, allowing the currents to sweep them away like debris. Hiding in plain sight strategy). There are some people that may find this alarming. Especially if new to receiving fish via a specialized licensed courier service, or are new to Wrasse, so below are somethings you may encounter on delivery. If you see your Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse: Heavy breathing, Irregular breathing Lying on its side, or bottom of the bag, motionless or limp, Keeling over as the bag is adjusted, (making no effort to self support in an attempt to go undetected) Lying on the side with tail or body curled, Displaying darker colours, Displaying a mottled, or striped pattern, Do not panic! Follow the instructions in the guarantee provided. Get in touch if you are concerned. Upon release, your Wrasse will most likely want to hide or at least stay inconspicuous by remaining motionless. Hiding is generally either by burying themselves or finding a nice cosy corner to hole up in. It is very normal for a newly introduced Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse to tuck itself away and not be seen for a few days. Allowing your new fish to settle in at their own pace is very important. If you give your Wrasse the space it needs to settle in and adjust, It will be back to its normal self soon.