Cleaner Wrasse “Clean” a Grouper

In between when I finish preparing the sea otter’s food and the morning staff briefing one of my favorite places to spend that time is in the Tropical Pacific viewing tunnel watching the cleaner wrasse going to work.

Cleaner wrasse set up cleaning stations that larger fish can go to for the wrasse’s services. The Bluestreak cleaner wrasse at the Aquarium of the Pacific has set up its station next to the Tropical Pacific viewing tunnel. There the wrasse will eat parasites, food particles, and dead tissue off of larger fish in what is called a mutualistic relationship that provides food and protection for the wrasse and health benefits for the larger fish. The aquarium’s Queensland grouper is a regular client of the wrasse.

It’s truly amazing to watch the trust between wrasse and client fish as the littler fish enters the gills and mouth of the larger fish to forage.

Check out the video and then check it out in person on your next visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific.