melanurus wrasse in hiding

ReeferNoob77 · Jun 13, 2017

I have a pair of melanurus wrasse that has decided to go into hiding for the past month. When I stir up the sand were they are they come out and eat and seem fine, then go back to hiding. It has been about a month now is this normal?

eatbreakfast · Jun 13, 2017

ReeferNoob77 said:
I have a pair of melanurus wrasse that has decided to go into hiding for the past month. When I stir up the sand were they are they come out and eat and seem fine, then go back to hiding. It has been about a month now is this normal?

No, that's not normal. Usually when that happens it is due to aggression shown toward them.

evolved · Jun 13, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
No, that's not normal. Usually when that happens it is due to aggression shown toward them.

+1

ReeferNoob77 · Jun 14, 2017

I haven't added any new fish to the system, not sure were the aggression would come from. They share the tank with 1 other wrasse, not sure what type, two tangs, a few chromis, a marine beta, and a few cardinals. It's a 300g tank so they have more than enough room. I will wake them up, feed, and watch maybe I can figure something out.

Thanks.

eatbreakfast · Jun 14, 2017

ReeferNoob77 said:
I haven't added any new fish to the system, not sure were the aggression would come from. They share the tank with 1 other wrasse, not sure what type, two tangs, a few chromis, a marine beta, and a few cardinals. It's a 300g tank so they have more than enough room. I will wake them up, feed, and watch maybe I can figure something out.

Thanks.

Depending on what species the other wrasse is, that would be my prime suspect, but I have also on rare occasion had tangs be aggressive to wrasses.

evolved · Jun 14, 2017

ReeferNoob77 said:
They share the tank with 1 other wrasse, not sure what type

Yeah, that species is an important detail here.

ReeferNoob77 · Jun 14, 2017

Still need to watch for aggression but here is a pic of the other wrasse.

eatbreakfast · Jun 15, 2017

ReeferNoob77 said:
Still need to watch for aggression but here is a pic of the other wrasse.

Halichoeres chloropterus. They can be pretty aggressive to other wrasses. I would be willing to wager that he is the cause for the hiding melanurus wrasses.