Leopard wrasse sleeping on gravel

Dub_G · Aug 10, 2017

This week suddenly my normally early to bed leopard wrasse has started sleeping on top of the sand instead of diving under the sand to sleep. The first time I saw him I was afraid he was dead or near death. But I could see he was still breathing. The next day he was up and swimming like nothing was wrong. He is eating good and everything seems normal. Anybody see this behavior in their wrasse?

Dr. Reef · Aug 10, 2017

What kind of substrate do you have?

Salty1962 · Aug 10, 2017

How big are your sand grains? If it's too course they can hurt themselves trying to burying in it.

Salty1962 · Aug 10, 2017

Dr. Reef said:
What kind of substrate do you have?

Jinx

Dub_G · Aug 11, 2017

Aragonite sand but not the really fine size.

There are no visible signs of injury to him. We've had him about 6 months and until this week he has always slept under the sand.

lion king · Aug 11, 2017

Very curious, I was concerned my sandbed isn't deep enough for mine. I know someone who's had one for years with a pretty shallow sandbed, she told me not worry. So I wonder how much it really matters to them. Keep us updated, I'd be curious if he ok and this is just his routine now. Maybe he's figured out there's no predators to hide from, mine's up early and ready to eat the next day so no sign of stress from a shallow sandbed.

eatbreakfast · Aug 11, 2017

I am a little concerned. The burying wrasses always bury at night if sand is available. The only way they don't is if they lack the strenghth to dive in. Have you noticed any scratching? How often are you feeding?

4FordFamily · Aug 11, 2017

I've occasionally seen halichoeres and macro (leopard) wrasse sleeping either partially or out if the sand. If something startled them under the sand. (Sand sifting star, another wrasse, snails, etc) they may emerge but not be bold enough to swim around and dive back in, or return to where they were just startled. If it happens two nights in a row I would start to worry.

Did you treat the wrasse with prazipro, and then metro/focus added to food for ten days shortly after arrival to kill internal parasites and potential flukes?