Cleaner Wrasse Tank Mates
Cleaner Wrasse is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 21 freshwater species that pair well with a cleaner wrasse — plus the 0 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a cleaner wrasse
- Clown Goby ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Neon Goby ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Banggai Cardinalfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Blue Damselfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Firefish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Green Chromis ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Ocellaris Clownfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Percula Clownfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Royal Gramma ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Six Line Wrasse ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Yellow Watchman Goby ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 9 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Bicolor Blenny ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Coral Beauty Angelfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Yellow Coris Wrasse ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Lawnmower Blenny ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 13 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Clarkii Clownfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Tomato Clownfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Melanurus Wrasse ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Bicolor Angelfish ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Diamond Goby ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Mandarin Dragonet ✅ CompatibleHard care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Cleaner Wrasse tank mates that can work with care
- Blue Tang ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 210 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Domino Damselfish ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Expect Domino Damselfish to harass Cleaner Wrasse at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Emperor Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Semi-aggressive · 38 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 210 L tank is below the ~850 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Flame Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 210 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Foxface Rabbitfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 24 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 210 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Kole Tang ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 210 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Maroon Clownfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Aggressive · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Maroon Clownfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Cleaner Wrasse — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Naso Tang ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 210 L tank is below the ~680 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
+ 5 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a cleaner wrasse
No outright no-gos among the species in our database yet — but always avoid fish much larger, much more aggressive, or needing very different water.
Check any fish against a cleaner wrasse
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a cleaner wrasse, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Cleaner Wrasse?
We compare each fish against your cleaner wrasse on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Banggai Cardinalfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Bicolor Angelfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Bicolor Blenny✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Blue Damselfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Clarkii Clownfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Clown Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Coral Beauty Angelfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Diamond Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Firefish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Green Chromis✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Green Chromis in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lawnmower Blenny✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 13 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Mandarin Dragonet✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Melanurus Wrasse✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Neon Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Ocellaris Clownfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Percula Clownfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Royal Gramma✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Six Line Wrasse✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Tomato Clownfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Yellow Coris Wrasse✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Yellow Watchman Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Blue Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Domino Damselfish⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Expect Domino Damselfish to harass Cleaner Wrasse at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Emperor Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 38 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~850 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Flame Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Foxface Rabbitfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 24 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Kole Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Maroon Clownfish⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Maroon Clownfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Cleaner Wrasse — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Naso Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~680 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Purple Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Queen Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~850 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Regal Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~480 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Sailfin Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 40 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~570 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Yellow Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 210 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Setting up a cleaner wrasse community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 210 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.
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How to choose the right tank mates for a cleaner wrasse
As a peaceful species, cleaner wrasse is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It ranges across the whole water column, so tank mates that keep to one level help reduce friction.
Cleaner Wrasse grows to about 11 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 6 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–27 °C (75–81 °F), pH 8–8.4 and 8–12 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Cleaner Wrasse doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cleaner wrasse live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 21 compatible freshwater species for cleaner wrasse. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.
What is the best tank mate for a cleaner wrasse?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Clown Goby, Neon Goby, Banggai Cardinalfish. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a cleaner wrasse?
No outright no-gos in our current database, but always avoid fish that are much larger, much more aggressive, or that need very different water.
How big a tank do cleaner wrasse tank mates need?
Start from Cleaner Wrasse's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 210 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.