The Wrasse Cleaning Station

Have you ever had some kind of parasite like a tick or something on your skin? If it is obvious, you may remove it yourself. Other times it may be in a place that is difficult to reach, so you need to get expert help. Since fish do not have hands, they need assistance with parasites, so they visit the local wrasse cleaning station.

Kelp bass with streak cleaner wrasse
Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Tomarin (CC by-SA 2.1 JP)

You may have seen videos of the cleaner wrasse being helpful in the sea, getting mutual benefits by cleaning much larger fish. They get some victuals, and other fish get parasites removed. The whole thing is quite amazing, since some of the clients are much larger than wrasses but do not eat them. Customers may have to wait in line for service.

The wrasse is safe while at the neutral zone, but if it goes away to get more clients for the cleaning station, it may get chomped. Darwinists are baffled because the whole thing goes against their views. Since the narrative drives the evidence, the mutual benefit aspect was falsely dismissed and refuted. Also, the benefits are for the customers are more than just parasite removal. This is another example of the Master Engineer's handiwork and provision for his creatures.

Cleaner wrasses are one of the most recognizable of reef fish. They have become famous for their cleaning behavior and are much sought after as aquarium fish for this purpose. Some studies have even suggested that cleaner wrasses are smarter than chimpanzees. While, until recently, they have not performed well in aquaria and thus have not been recommended, their wild behavior provides evidence for God’s marvelous design in his creation.

Cleaner wrasses exhibit symbiotic behavior with numerous creatures on the reef around them. Symbiosis is a long-term relationship between two organisms. There are three types of symbiosis: the one exhibited by cleaner wrasses and their clients is called mutualism. In this type of symbiosis, both the wrasse and its client fish get a benefit to their survival. This is a crucial concept to keep in mind when discussing the cleaner wrasse.

To FINish the rest of this fascinating article, click on "Cleaner Wrasses Demonstrate Providential Design".

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