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If they eat other foods they will live well
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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That is exactly the crux of the whole problem with cleaner wrasses. Most don't eat other than those parasites and dead scales and such from other fish. Some eat prepared food, most(I'd say 95%) don't. Yes mysis, pods, parasites, what have you are protein, that doesn't mean that is what these fish eat in nature. Some figure out that this stuff floating around in the tank is a food source. Most don't. Cleaner wrasses have developed a very specific niche in nature. To clean off other fish on the reef.
If I was to go to any LFS right now I can honestly say none of the cleaners in any store will eat the prepared food. If I see one that does I am always amazed. That is few and far between. Personally I have seen maybe ten out of the hundreds I have seen come through various stores I have visited eat prepared food. fully half die before they leave the store, more die shortly after. They are still obligate feeders as such. If a relatively small number have adapted and eat foodstuffs being offered for them doesn't mean the fish aren't obligate feeders. When the books say obligate they are talking of what they eat in nature and only there. Things that happen in our tanks are not always what happens in nature. We all have seen that to one extent or another. Especially when it comes to fish. They are for the most part very adaptable. Older ones aren't as adaptable. Get a younger fish and you stand a better chance of getting one that hasn't become so steadfast in it's habits of what it eats to live.
It is great that your cleaner wrasse is around after two years. I hope it keeps going for a long time to come.
[ 10 May 2002, 16:30: Message edited by: DJ88 ]