Description

Also known as Cleaner Wrasse, Wandering Cleaner Wrasse, Yellowtail Tubelip Wrasse, Yellowtail Wrasse, Yellow-tailed Cleaner Wrasse, Yellow-tailed Tubelip, Yellow-tailed Wrasse.

Found singly or in small schools, over shallow, sheltered, lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.
They feed on coral polyps (parasites and dead skin, when they occasionally clean other fish).
Length - 10cm
Depth - 2-20m
Widespread Western Central Pacific

Most reef fish seen by divers during the day, are grazers, they cruise around, just above the surface of the coral, or snoop into crevices, foraging for food.
Wrasses have small protruding teeth, which they use to graze the bottom, taking in a variety of algae, crustaceans, such as crabs, eggs, shrimps, snails and worms. Any hard coats or thick shells, are then ground down by their pharyngeal jaws, and the delicacies inside digested.
From juvenile to adult, wrasses dramatically alter their colour and body shapes.
Wrasses are always on the go during the day, but are the first to go to bed and the last to rise.
Small wrasses dive below the sand to sleep, and larger wrasses wedge themselves in crevices. (edit) Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5108