New Wrasse Missing !!

[Paul Davies]

Hi Guys,

Bought a new wrasse from my trustworthy lfs last weekend, it was a small leopard wrasse and very healthy.

After i put he rinto the tank she went around ver cautiosuly then dissapeared. The next morning i noticed her at the front and when she spotted me she quickly burried under the gravel, she has not been spotted since (2days).

I have a dwarf angel, 3 chromis and a watchman goby.

My question is :- can they last long without food under the substrate ? and has anybody experienced this with their wrasses ?

thx

Paul.

[swjim]

Many Wrasse will bury themselves overnight but I haven't heard of any staying under the sand for two full days.

[cardiffgiant]

I hthink this is common with wrasse fish. My 4 line his for a couple of weeks before he started to swim around.

[scubajsm]

I too just got a leopard wrasse over the weekend. Mine hid all but about one hour the first day. The second day I think I saw it for 30-45 mins. Each time it comes out the belly is fat, so it must be eating pods or something cause I've offered food, but it doesn't seem interested yet. I have sand in my tank and it buries itself completely except for the the eye, it just looks around. I know that they are shy at first and then settle in to be be wonderful, constantly picking at the rocks seaching for food. Today its been out for about 3 hours that I've seen, and it's roaming around the tank. I wouldn't worry about it hiding, this is what they do when they are stressed, my yellow wrasse did the same thing in the beginning. Make sure you get it to eat, and keep an eye on it make sure it doesn't get skinny. Good luck, is it male or female? I think mine is a female from what I've researched.

[coral rules]

I had leopard wrasse for a few months. For the first two weeks or so it hid and rarely came out. Eventually it got a little braver and stayed out for the whole day. My advice would be to give it a little time.

[flasher1]

I had a flasher wrasse that got picked on by my potters angel. It eventually killed the wrasse. Hope yours is just hiding.

[Devtech]

mine hid for 6 days straight..u should be fine

[Beach Bum 70]

I had a xmass hide for 3 weeks before you came out everyday.It sucks but just hope for the best...

[Paul Davies]

cheers guys, guess they are tempremental at first, i hope mine is just shy.

Did you do anything to tempt them to come out ?

[Blown 346]

With any new arrival they will hide, and can do so for days on end. Plus new arrivals have more of a chance to jump out of the tank since they startle very easy. I would check behind the tank, in the overflow etc.

There is nothing you can do but let the fish get comfortable

[LukFox]

Whatever you do, don't go digging around in the sand for it as it's likely just hiding out and you can actually seriously injure it if you aren't careful. Just leave it be and let it get comfortable.

[Paul Davies]

Guys Guys Guys,..........hes out !!! roaming the tank eating pods and brine,flake and mysis !!!!

[swjim]

Glad to hear it!

[Beach Bum 70]

cool but dont worry if he hides again .Its all new to them.just takes time but a least you know he is alive..