Cleaner Fish Mutualism

Cleaning station economics — cheating, reputation, and the evolution of mutualism

Cleaning Station

Clients served0
Honest cleans0
Cheating events0
Clients fled0
Cleaner reputationHigh

Game Theory

Cleaner wrasse (Labroides) face a temptation to bite client mucus (cheating) rather than removing parasites. Clients assess service quality. Inspectors (bystanders) observe cleaning and update reputation. Predators refrain from eating cleaners due to service value.

Payoff: honest--
Payoff: cheat--
Stable strategy--

Client Fish

Resident clients0
Visiting clients0
Avg parasite load--
Satisfaction rate--