Mutualistic Cleaner Fish Maintains High Escape Performance Despite Privileged Relationship with Predators

This research shows that cleaner wrasses maintain escape capabilities even when cleaning large predators like groupers, demonstrating that mutualism involves managed risk rather than naive trust. Cleaners don't fully 'trust' their predator clients - they maintain the ability to flee if cooperation breaks down.

For business strategists, this illustrates the importance of maintaining alternatives even in successful partnerships. The cleaner fish's BATNA (escape capability) provides leverage in an otherwise asymmetric relationship.