Cleaner Wrasse
Scientific name Labroides dimidiatus
The Cleaner Wrasse is one of the hardest-working fish on the reef. Small and slender, with a bright blue stripe running along its body, this species is famous for operating “cleaning stations” where larger fish line up to have parasites removed.
Around Koh Tao, Cleaner Wrasse can be found on almost every reef between 2–30 metres. They hover in small territories above coral heads or rocky outcrops, performing a distinctive “dance” to signal to passing fish that cleaning services are available.
Large groupers, snappers, parrotfish and even turtles may pause and hold still while the wrasse carefully removes parasites, dead skin and debris — sometimes even entering the mouth and gill openings of much bigger fish without being eaten.
This mutualistic relationship benefits both species: the client fish gets cleaned, and the wrasse receives a steady food supply.
Find Cleaner Wrasse at...
Divemaster's tip
Look for a small wrasse hovering in mid-water above a coral head. If larger fish are pausing nearby or tilting sideways, you’ve found a cleaning station.
Avoid swimming directly through the station — sudden movement may interrupt the cleaning interaction.
What do they eat?
Cleaner Wrasse feed primarily on parasites, dead tissue and mucus removed from other fish.
By reducing parasite loads on reef fish, they play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of Koh Tao’s coral reef ecosystem.
