Is it normal for cleaner wrasse to hide?

[fishywishy]

Just got a cleaner wrasse today and he is eating, swims fine, and looks very healthy but then all of a sudden he just goes in the rock work and lays down in a little hole. Is this normal?

 

[Stephen8169301]

Give him time fish require time to adjust give it a few weeks if he is eating I’d say he is okay for now just shy

 

[i cant think]

Just got a cleaner wrasse today and he is eating, swims fine, and looks very healthy but then all of a sudden he just goes in the rock work and lays down in a little hole. Is this normal?

Yes this is normal, every fish when new will hide at some point. It’s likely just adjusting, I’ve had wrasses hang out and about for the first few hours of the first day of being in the tank and then out of nowhere they just go into hiding for the rest of the day.

 

[fishywishy]

Yes this is normal, every fish when new will hide at some point. It’s likely just adjusting, I’ve had wrasses hang out and about for the first few hours of the first day of being in the tank and then out of nowhere they just go into hiding for the rest of the day.

Good to know. Same thing is happening with my new fire goby he was swimming and eating normally yesterday but today he’s just hiding under a rock and doesn’t come out to eat. Should I check on him or just leave him?

 

[Rmckoy]

I’ve read These can be very hard fish to keep long term

depends geographically where it’s from some are easier to keep with less dietary demands .
some of these fish require large amounts of parasites from many fish to sustain .

@vetteguy53081 perhaps you can clarify

 

[fishywishy]

I’ve read These can be very hard fish to keep long term

depends geographically where it’s from some are easier to keep with less dietary demands .
some of these fish require large amounts of parasites from many fish to sustain .

@vetteguy53081 perhaps you can clarify

He’s fine now and is eating well

 

[fishywishy]

Good to know. Same thing is happening with my new fire goby he was swimming and eating normally yesterday but today he’s just hiding under a rock and doesn’t come out to eat. Should I check on him or just leave him?

Never mind he’s fine now

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just got a cleaner wrasse today and he is eating, swims fine, and looks very healthy but then all of a sudden he just goes in the rock work and lays down in a little hole. Is this normal?

I’ve had mine 8 years now and never did hide until each evening

 

[i cant think]

I’ve read These can be very hard fish to keep long term

depends geographically where it’s from some are easier to keep with less dietary demands .
some of these fish require large amounts of parasites from many fish to sustain .

@vetteguy53081 perhaps you can clarify

Cleaner Wrasses are difficult no matter their geographical origin. The ones that are easiest are the ones bred in captivity.

 

[fishywishy]

I’ve had mine 8 years now and never did hide until each evening

Mine only hides in the evening as well.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Mine only hides in the evening as well.

then you got a normal one LOL

 

[zoomonster]

It probably just needs to adjust. Had mine 9 years and one of the most active fish in the tank, always in water column and eats out of my hand (jumps there sometimes too lol). Now at night he has his rock hole where he sleeps.

 

[zoomonster]

Cleaner Wrasses are difficult no matter their geographical origin. The ones that are easiest are the ones bred in captivity.

Thats always been said but never found it true of common cleaner wrasses. Mine 9 yo cleans fish, eats flake, frozen, even nori and has never been an issue. I have had several (all wild) in the past 30 years and all the same. Now Hawaiian cleaner wrasses are a whole different story and one of the few fish, along with purple queen anthias, I am convinced can't survive in a tank for any period of time. I'm guilty of killing two of the cleaners in the process of trying years ago.

 

[i cant think]

Thats always been said but never found it true of common cleaner wrasses. Mine 9 yo cleans fish, eats flake, frozen, even nori and has never been an issue. I have had several (all wild) in the past 30 years and all the same. Now Hawaiian cleaner wrasses are a whole different story and one of the few fish, along with purple queen anthias, I am convinced can't survive in a tank for any period of time. I'm guilty of killing two of the cleaners in the process of trying years ago.

You likely got lucky and your LFS got them feeding before you got them. I’ve seen the nightmare side of Cleaner Wrasses and those healthy ones that thrive are rather hard to come across unless an LFS knows certain tricks such as Masstik and other techniques.

 

[fishywishy]

Thats always been said but never found it true of common cleaner wrasses. Mine 9 yo cleans fish, eats flake, frozen, even nori and has never been an issue. I have had several (all wild) in the past 30 years and all the same. Now Hawaiian cleaner wrasses are a whole different story and one of the few fish, along with purple queen anthias, I am convinced can't survive in a tank for any period of time. I'm guilty of killing two of the cleaners in the process of trying years ago.

Mines the same except for the eating out of your hand part

 

[zoomonster]

You likely got lucky and your LFS got them feeding before you got them. I’ve seen the nightmare side of Cleaner Wrasses and those healthy ones that thrive are rather hard to come across unless an LFS knows certain tricks such as Masstik and other techniques.

Probably just luck... he was pretty much just out of the bag at LFS from Quality Marine although QM back then actually meant "quality".

 

[Rmckoy]

One i had years ago would pick at my hand every time I was in the tank but wouldnt eat any offered foods

 

[Rmckoy]

The most amazing thing to see .
at a public aquarium they had a massive Goliath grouper with a small wrasse cleaning inside it’s mouth .