Burying Wrasses

[Brian S]

Thanks for your time!

I've been qt'ing a Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus). I havent seen him in 48 hours. Im certain he's buried in the dish of sand. Is it abnormal for them to go days buried in the sand?

 

[Highgrade]

Thanks for your time!

I've been qt'ing a Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus). I havent seen him in 48 hours. Im certain he's buried in the dish of sand. Is it abnormal for them to go days buried in the sand?

Not at all. It can be days or even weeks. Don't dig him up either. Let him adjust. He'll come out eventually.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Not abnormal at all. Leave it be. Never dig up a buried wrasse.

 

[Brian S]

What a crazy fish! I'll continue to wait and hope that I dont see an amonia spike.

FWIW - I should have mentioned, that he's been in qt for 30 days. He went into hiding after I added an airstone in preperation for a prazipro round.

 

[eatbreakfast]

If he is stressed he buries. Burying wrasses usually don't die under the sand.

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

I’ve QT’d multiple leopard wrasses and the ones that died never stayed in the sand. If anything, I always viewed it as a good sign that no illness was significantly effecting him

Mine would also come out at ~5am when ambient light from the sunrise was in the room and it would go to sleep fairly early at around 3/4

 

[CindyKz]

Mine has buried on a couple of occasions and I never did figure out why. They are goofy. He might be coming out during the day when you aren't by the tank.

You'll see him eventually I expect. Don't go looking for him you will just stress him further.

 

[4FordFamily]

I had a lime green halichoeres that vanished for over one month before emerging as a male with beautiful green streaks on his face. I thought him dead!

 

[jd371]

You can set a clock by when mine buries in the sand at night. He also buries when I'm working in the tank and I have my hand in there too long. I think the longest he's been under the sand was for a day.

 

[nereefpat]

Yep, normal. I had a Coris gaimard that I wouldn't see for a couple days after adjusting the timers for daylight saving time.