Male Leopard Wrasse; Odd behavior... Concern or Frisky?

[jlanger]

Tonight, I could here a lot of splashing coming from my 120gal reef. When I went to inspect what was causing the issue, I noticed that my male Blue Star Leopard Wrasse was behaving a bit odd. The fish would turn on his side and aggressively "flash" along the front glass. If he was near the surface of the water, he would quickly dart at the surface and dive back down. As these events were happening, it attracted a lot of attention from the other fish. These events lasted about an hour around 8PM; as my lighting is about half the way through ramping down for the night. If I approached the tank to watch, he would settle down and weave in and out of the rocks; as usual. When I distanced myself from the tank, the activity resumed.
Here's some video that I took showcasing this odd behavior.


This fish has been one of the calmest fish in the tank; never aggressive towards another fish. He has been in my system for years; transitioning from female to male a couple of years ago; it seems. He is in great health and is a great eater; not shy about taking food from my hands or intimidated by other fish.

Is this behavior something I should be concerned with?
Or could this behavior represent a male displaying for courtship?

I ask about the courtship because my reef has a history of other fish spawning in the tank.
My pair of Percula Clownfish are currently guarding a new batch of eggs. Last year, I had a male Lyretail Anthias repeated spawn with two of the four females. I also had a pair of Randall's Gobies that built a nest and laid eggs in their burrow.
So I ask, is my male wrasse acting out on his desire to attract a female? Should I look into adding a couple of females for him?

Now that my lights have been off for a while, everything has calmed down for the night; no worse for wear.

If anyone has any experience with "displaying" or "spawning" leopard wrasses, please chime in.

 

[reef heaven]

Do you think it's possible he is seeing his reflection and thinks it's another male?

 

[jlanger]

Do you think it's possible he is seeing his reflection and thinks it's another male?

Possible... But with the displaying behavior being exhibited throughout the depth of the tank, it doesn't seem like it would be so.

The video clip shows just a sliver of what was happening over the hour long event. But the breaking of the surface all took place on that end of the tank; just above the flow from the water pump and return.

Thanks for the insight; you may be right, though.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I've had male wrasses who "display" at dusk darting through the tank and flaring fins, I don't think I would worry too much about it unless he starts doing it all day long or looking stressed out. I've also seen tangs do this at their reflections so it could be him being territorial now that he's mature and healthy Great tank by the way!

 

[evolved]

He's attacking the opponent on the other side of the glass...

 

[Rakie]

I've had male wrasses who "display" at dusk darting through the tank and flaring fins, I don't think I would worry too much about it unless he starts doing it all day long or looking stressed out. I've also seen tangs do this at their reflections so it could be him being territorial now that he's mature and healthy Great tank by the way!

He's attacking the opponent on the other side of the glass...

These guys have it right.

Come dusk, all my wrasse bring out the attitudes. They all flash each other, and the dominant male fights his reflection pretty hard. My tiny blue flasher turns all blue and zips around the bigger wrasses like he's tough until they look at him, then fins down zoom to the rocks. Angulatus full flashing and darting around the tank. He starts crap with everything at dusk, especially his reflection. Lunate is about the same as the angulatus, trying to fight with everything and show off his colors.

The melanurus just digs like 15 test beds all over the sand until he goes to the SAME spot he always goes to and tucks in.

Dusk is when wrasse seem to get testy. I kind of see it like how birds chirp at dawn and dusk -- but more fighty

 

[eatbreakfast]

It's a territorial display to the 'other male' in his territory he perceives.

 

[4FordFamily]

He's attacking the opponent on the other side of the glass...

Agree.

 

[jlanger]

Thanks for all of the replies.
I've seen other species of wrasses flashing before, but never from a leopard. What really caught my attention and had me concerned was the darting at the water's surface. I should've known better as this behavior mimics that of when my male anthias courted the females each night; the wrasse's attention is just misdirected.

 

[evolved]

Dusk is when wrasse seem to get testy. I kind of see it like how birds chirp at dawn and dusk -- but more fighty

Dusk is when fish spawn; that's all there is behind the behavior you see.

the wrasse's attention is just misdirected.

Eh, not really. He sees a rival male, and that's an opponent to fend off at spawning time.

So I ask, is my male wrasse acting out on his desire to attract a female?

No; it's the above.

Should I look into adding a couple of females for him?

I wouldn't. Those females could turn male, and then the behavior you're seeing now won't be towards a phantom opponent, but a real one.