On many of our dives, we encounter streams of creole wrasse swimming along the reef. The creole wrasse varies in color from dark purple to violet and even lavender. Older fish develop yellowish areas on the lower rear of the body. The snout is usually much darker than the body. When they are streaming, they move quickly, but at times they slow down to look for cleaners, and they often beg cleaner fish to clean them. That is when they are easiest to photograph.
This species reaches 12 inches in length, but most of the fish in these photos are in the range of 6 to 8 inches. We also see early juveniles when they settle into the reef ecosystem, as well as older juveniles. These photos were taken between 30 and 45 feet.
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| The yellow-tailed, blue-headed fish is a Spanish hogfish juvenile, a cleaner. |
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