M. bipartitus eating sand

[impur]

My female bipartitus seems to be eating sand recently. I am watcher her graze the sandbed now, and I have seen her go to the back near the overflow to poop which looks like just sand the several times I have seen her do it. I have had her for about 6 months, feed mysis, brine, pacific plankton, krill, and she eats New Life Spectrum pellets. I soak the food a few days a week in Brightwell Vitamarin M and C. And ideas? Is this normal?

 

[saltyhog]

I've seen a couple of my fairy wrasses and one of my Halichoerus wrasse doing that recently. I've had some some diatom problems and they seem to be eating them. Mine don't seem to swallow the sand that I can tell but I haven't seen them poop lately. :bigsmile:

 

[Mike S]

My bipartitus does the same thing and I had him for almost 2 years. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Renton777]

I have a fat healthy male bipartitus that does the same thing. Eats other foods like a pig but also eats sand, my guess is that there are pods or some sort of film algae on the sand that they like.

 

[impur]

Good deal, was starting to get worried. Her stomach looks so full sometimes lol. But yah she still eats all the foods I put in there as well.

Thanks guys!

 

[evolved]

They will (and do) sift the sand; they'll scoop up a mouthful and spit it out, then eat whatever crustaceans they can now see loose in the water column. I would expect a bit of sand to be eaten in the process too.