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Cleaning time
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
A Giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus) is getting cleaning help from a Common cleaning wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus).
The Giant moray can grow up to 300cm and is a giant compared with the small wrasse that grows up to 11cm. A moray normally feeds on fish and octopuses but still it would not eat this small fish because it needs its help. That can be defined as partnerships in which certain animals free others from external parasites and loose or infected skin. As both sides have advantages – relief for the costumer, food for the barber – this is called symbiosis. The cleaner wrasse is a fish that lives of eating skin parasites of other fishes, morays, sharks and so on.
You’ll find them single or in pairs, only rarely in small groups and they are very territorial. Often their cleaning stations are easily recognized by experienced divers just by their special appearance: a large table coral, a solitary coral block, something extraordinary to the eye in the colourful variety of the reef. This is the spot to meet the cleaner and to be memorized by local clients. You’ll often find the same animals coming back to the same cleaning station. The cleaner wrasse s themselves swim with wriggling and dipping movements all the time by using only their pectoral fins. In that manner they signal their purpose to their customers, and avoid being taken for easy prey by the usually much larger customers.
The picture is taken at Panorama Reef on 10 meters depth. The moray had its mouth open and the cleaner wrasse inside it but I did not manage to get any sharp pictures of that because it was getting dark so my camera had difficulties to focus. |
LordPotty, marhowie, Lourens has marked this note useful
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- RAP
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(7405) - [2004-12-11 5:30]
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TrekNature se construye día a día con la participación de todos los usuarios.
Publicando sus imágenes, pero también criticando los trabajos de los demás.
Cada uno con sus conocimientos, palabras o poder de síntesis, siempre con comentarios constructivos.
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TrekNature is constructed day to day with the participation of all the users.
Publishing your images, but also criticizing the works of the others.
Each one with its knowledge, words or power of synthesis, always with constructive commentaries.
Without that active participation of all, this site does not have future... and it only depends on us.
Those giant morays are gentle(ish) but they look freaky.When I was a kid on Niue,there were two living under the wharf where we swam.When I saw them come out and swim from cave to cave,I would swear they were 2 metres or more in length.Great shot!
Peter, Enjoyed your info. on this. Great close-up of your Moray with excellent details!
- japie
(5187)
- [2004-12-12 6:08]
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This guy looks menacing and in dire need of a clean.
Very well done and thanks for posting.
Excellent shot, Peter. Superb detail, sharpness and colour. Good work!!!
When I first saw a Moray I was very nervous but tried so hard to catch it on film, I did and when I saw how close I got i though twice about what I was doing. Here you have captured it very well and looking at the details I must invest in a underwater housing for my D100. Also cant wait to go diving again.
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 47 W: 1 N: 253]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 191 W: 0 N: 323]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(1130)