Dive Into Your Imagination

Cleaning Stations are imperative to the health of a reef. Whenever there are fish parked over or under a reef not moving, chances are they are in a cleaning station getting cleaned or waiting their turn to get cleaned. There are many cleaners on a reef such as gobies, shrimp, and some butterfly fish. They feed on parasites and dead scales and skin.

Just like we need to take a shower, get a manicure or pedicure, fish need to be groomed too. If a fish has been bit, they may even spend 23 to 24 hours in a cleaning station taking care of their wound, kind of like an fish hospital. Scientists have also discussed that some fish might like the tactile touch of the cleaners, kind of like how we like our arms and back tickled.

Fish are really vulnerable when they are in a cleaning station and predators are always on the outskirts. The fish getting cleaned will change the colors of their skin to help the cleaners identify which parts of their body are parasites and dead skin. The fish stays absolutely still and will open its mouth not to eat the cleaner, but to let it in to clean out their gills! If the fish feels threatened and needs to leave the cleaning station, the fish will shake and the cleaner fish will jump off before the fish swims away.

BLUE OCEAN TIP: Many of our electronic devices have batteries in them. We do not want to throw batteries into the garbage because the acid leaks into the earth and into our ground water. Always take electronics and batteries to a recycling center that can handle the batteries. When you travel to developing countries, do not leave your used batteries, take them back home and dispose of them properly.



 

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Who Lives in the Sea?

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