False Cleanerfish (Blenniidae false)
Fish in the family Blenniidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
A slender blenny with a streamlined body reaching about 5.5 inches. Coloration typically features dark brown to black base with lighter striping or mottling along the body. The head is relatively large with a blunt snout, and distinctive fang-like teeth are visible when the mouth opens—a characteristic that distinguishes it from true cleaner wrasses.
Diet and feeding
Primarily feeds on small crustaceans, copepods, and small fish in the wild. In captivity, offer high-quality frozen foods (mysis shrimp, small frozen fishes) daily, supplemented with quality flake food and occasional live small prey.
Difficulty and care for the False Cleanerfish
Moderate difficulty. While hardy once acclimated, false cleanerfish require live or meaty foods and can be aggressive toward similar-looking species or fish it may attempt to parasitize rather than clean. Acclimation can be slow.
Common health issues
Ich, marine velvet, parasitic infections, food refusal in new tanks
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, East Africa, and extending to Hawaii and the Great Barrier Reef. Found on shallow coral reef environments.
Log False Cleanerfish in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track False Cleanerfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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