Once sardines realize that a senorita wrasse is grooming one of their school, they descend en masse to have their own parasites removed. It seems to hurt: they flinch when the senorita nips at their gill covers. IAfter a few, the senorita becomes overwhelmed and swims off, eager sardines in pursuit. For some reason, a senorita swimming across the reef is usually left alone. n this photo, the senorita is the dark fish near center. She still seems interested in the work. She has a black halfmoon on her tail, not too visible here.
Cleaner wrasse in the tropics appear to hang out in particular spots, and to eagerly tend their customers. These cleaners seem more rushed and less interested in cleaning as their main activity.
Conditions have been great lately; despite high surf on Saturday, the visibility on the West side of Refugio Beach was better than some swimming pools I've been in, and the water was 66F at depth; 71F on the surface.
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