How to keep wrasses in bare bottom tanks?

reefer4816 · Mar 16, 2018

how do you all keep wrasses in bare bottom systems?

I would love to see all the creative ideas.

bluedevils6653 · Mar 16, 2018

not all wrasses need sand...

bluedevils6653 · Mar 16, 2018

with that being said what type of wrasses were you thinking of keeping?

reefer4816 · Mar 16, 2018

bluedevils6653 said:
with that being said what type of wrasses were you thinking of keeping?

I know this. sorry didn’t think I needed to be uber specific.

“For the wrasses that need sand such as Melanarus and yellow coris wrasse, what do you do to keep them in bare bottom tanks”

ibob991 · Mar 16, 2018

A lot of people put tupperware containers of sand behind rock for them to bed in, but I believe that it is not the most ideal situation. You will stress them out without a full blown sandbed, so it is best to avoid these fish if you plan to go bare bottom.

Jesterrace · Mar 17, 2018

ibob991 said:
A lot of people put tupperware containers of sand behind rock for them to bed in, but I believe that it is not the most ideal situation. You will stress them out without a full blown sandbed, so it is best to avoid these fish if you plan to go bare bottom.

Yup, seen that one used several times and it seems to work fairly well. Although as the wrasses can get pretty good sized that might not be the best long term plan.

Baldguy · Mar 17, 2018

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/wrasse-beds-keeping-wrasses-in-a-bare-bottom-tank.134214/

More natural than tupperware. Don't know where he got it.

wiselyy73 · Mar 17, 2018

I have a yellow coris with no issue.

eatbreakfast · Mar 17, 2018

wiselyy73 said:
I have a yellow coris with no issue.

It can be done, but is less than ideal.

wiselyy73 · Mar 17, 2018

And a cleaner wrasses too

eatbreakfast · Mar 17, 2018

Cleaner wrasses don't bury in the sand.

Reef Jeff · Mar 17, 2018

I have a melanurus wrasse that sleeps in a cave in the live rock. He tried to bury in the sand on his first night, but it was not deep enough. He immediately found a cave and sleeps in there. Been there at night ever since. Didn’t know they would use an alternative like that.

eatbreakfast · Mar 17, 2018

Sand burying wrasses' natural instinct is to bury in the sand at night and when in danger. In the wild they are never too far from a place they can bury. This is because it is one of their primary defenses.

If adequate sand is not available, yes they make do. However, this is far from ideal and adds unnecessary stress. Please, if you keep sand burying wrasses keep in mind their instinctual make up and provide a proper amount of sand for refuge for them.

Anthonykp17 · Mar 17, 2018

I have had a male and female melanurus wrasse for over 18 months in my bare bottom tank. They both seem to find a cave when they want to go to sleep at night. No since I am not a Fish whisperer I can not attest to how happy my fish are. But as a simple reefer. I will assume a growing and fat wrasse is good. So my simple advice is make sure they have a lot of caves on the bottom of the tank.

eatbreakfast · Mar 20, 2018

Anthonykp17 said:
I have had a male and female melanurus wrasse for over 18 months in my bare bottom tank. They both seem to find a cave when they want to go to sleep at night. No since I am not a Fish whisperer I can not attest to how happy my fish are. But as a simple reefer. I will assume a growing and fat wrasse is good. So my simple advice is make sure they have a lot of caves on the bottom of the tank.

Ah, but a female melanurus should have begun it's transition to male well before an 18month span, even with a male present. Something is halting it's transition.