Bare bottom sand sleeping wrasse info

[Mykesocalreef]

Looking to add containers of sand in my bare bottom for the wrasse that require it. Any suggestions on sand type/size. Preferred container size and sand depth? Hopefully some of you already have this figured out. Thanks in advance!

 

[Jesterrace]

I know some have used the disposable ziploc containers filled with sand to do the job. Realistically though, for your wrasse to be happy long term it needs a real sand bed.

 

[PanchoG]

I know some have used the disposable ziploc containers filled with sand to do the job. Realistically though, for your wrasse to be happy long term it needs a real sand bed.

+1 I have only seen small containers solutions for QT. Please also consider the wrasse will make part of the susbstrate to blow into your bottom bare creating some mess.

 

[Mykesocalreef]

If i decide to add sand to my tank what grade and how deep is best?

 

[PanchoG]

I would say 2” deep and with grain size between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm to avoid sandstorms or movements by the wave makers. Caribsea has nice options I have Aragonite Special Reef Sand in my tank and I have 3 wrasses living on it. Here it is the link:
https://caribsea.com/aquarium/#

 

[Jason Jones]

I have a melanarus, radiant, and exquisite in my bare bottom tanks and have not had any problems.

 

[joec]

I have a melanarus, radiant, and exquisite in my bare bottom tanks and have not had any problems.

The malanarus and radiant require sand

 

[Mykesocalreef]

My friend has had a melanarus in his BB for two years with no sand. Very active and plump.. I know they bury which is why I was looking for a way to get sand in there. As far as if it’s happy without sand I have no idea.

 

[PanchoG]

I have a melanarus and a yellow wrasse and both go into the sand every night.

 

[Mykesocalreef]

I have a melanarus and a yellow wrasse and both go into the sand every night.

Which yellow wrasse do you have? I believe one doesn’t rewuire sand.

 

[Mykesocalreef]

Cancel that, just reread and saw they both need dand

 

[reef lover]

Even wrasse s that require sand will find alternatives when theres none. Most tuck into cracks and crevices in lr.i have a corris in the dt that goes in the rocks and i have 2 emeralds in qt with sand and they only went in the sand the first day now they sleep in the pvc.

 

[Jason Jones]

The malanarus and radiant require sand

Mine must not be aware of this requirement, over a year and no problems.

 

[maroun.c]

Mine find the sand container I. Q tank Very quick... Fine sand is best. Many as above stated do keep wrasses in bare bottom tanks and apparently they get used to sleeping in the rocks...

 

[joec]

Evolved, resident expert on wrasse

Halichores:
"Some people have kept them in bare-bottom tanks, but this will have a long term effect on the stress level of the fish"

 

[PanchoG]

To my knowledge, they can survive without the sand but you will be shorten their life expectancy.

 

[Mykesocalreef]

How would we measure the stress level of the fish? Is there a behavior that they exhibit that would show the signs of stress?

 

[andrewkw]

In almost any tank it's not hard to hide a container with several inches of sand. I would say 2" is deep enough for smaller wrasses and 3-4" for larger. Get 2 of the container and you can swap out the sand every 6 months or so. I just used whatever tupperware I had when I had a leopard wrasse (which lived for 7 years although not always in a bb tank). In my experience it takes about 1 day for them to find the sand and after that they are fine. Frankly I'm surprised some acrylic maker hasn't started making little "wrasse beds" which can really be any shape or size. I would not be surprised if you have something in your house that will do.

 

[joec]

How would we measure the stress level of the fish? Is there a behavior that they exhibit that would show the signs of stress?

Not sure you can "measure" it, but the result is likely succumbing to disease and early death.

My dog could "survive" in the dark in my tiny basement bathroom its entire life, but it's probably not a good idea

There are lots of wrasse you can get that don't require sand

 

[SeaJay]

My red coris was wigging out in qt trying to find a place to bury himself. So much so that I was afraid he was going to injure himself running into the glass. So I put a container of sand in there for him. He wouldn’t go in it. I finally was able to tilt it and coax him in there thinking now he knows where it is. The container is about 6” tall with about 2” of sand in it. Well, he came out of the sand and couldn’t even find his way out of the container. Swimming around in this clear container banging into the sides of it. I guess they aren’t too bright. So now I have a sand bed in my qt. He was just too stressed without it. I’ve got a Hanna checker and I just monitor the levels very closely. When he’s back in the DT I’ll go back to bare bottom in the QT.