Jun 7, 2025

6 Facts About Daring Fish That Clean Mouths Of Sharks And Whales

ET Online

Cleaner wrasse swim upto sharks

These tiny fish are called Cleaner Wrasse, who bravely swim up to sharks and whales.

Image Source: Agencies

Deep cleaning shark’s mouth

These fish not only clean a shark’s body but also venture into shark's mouth and gills to do their job.

Image Source: Agencies

Underwater dentists

Cleaner wrasse feed on parasites and leftover food stuck between a predator’s teeth, giving sharks a free deep-clean.

Image Source: Agencies

Why don’t sharks eat them?

Despite their instincts, sharks tolerate the cleaner wrasse, often pausing and opening their mouths to allow cleaning and removal of leftovers.

Image Source: Agencies

Mutual relationship

Sharks or other fish don’t eat cleaner wrasse because they benefit from the parasite removal, and it's a win-win setup.

Image Source: Agencies

What do Cleaner wrasse get out of this?

Instead of being eaten, they feast on parasites and leftovers, making it a buffet with no catch.

Image Source: Agencies

Important to marine health

By keeping large predators parasite-free, cleaner wrasse play a crucial role in maintaining ocean ecosystems.

Image Source: Agencies

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