melanurus wrasse missing/hiding for 3 days

Tanggy · Dec 8, 2018

I have a melanurus wrasse for about 1 year now. He's been missing for about 3 days now. NO obvious sign of stress/disease. He's been eating/swimming normal before he went missing. No bullying. Should I wait a few more days before I go hunting for him. I think I know where he normally sleep. Thanks.

cracker · Dec 8, 2018

I'd wait a few days then search. A few questions please.
Is the tank covered? they are jumpers
Did you search real good around the tank & in the overflows?
Do You have nasarious snails? These snails are voracious & will eat an entire fish very quickly!

KrisReef · Dec 8, 2018

Test for ammonia? (I hope it is zero!)

Tanggy · Dec 8, 2018

I learned the hard way about tight fitting top cover. Lost a leopard wrasse 8-9 months ago. My cover is tight sealed. I do have nasarious snail. Are they known to eat fish?

Tanggy · Dec 8, 2018

KrisReef said:
Test for ammonia? (I hope it is zero!)

ammonia is currently zero...

Maritimer · Dec 8, 2018

Nassarius will eat anything dead. They won't prey on living wrasses sleeping in the sand, but if one passes on, they'll clean it up pretty quickly.

~Bruce

BigJohnny · Dec 8, 2018

I would wait a lot longer than 3 days to go digging. Sand dwelling wrasses can bury for a lot longer than that for various reasons with no issue.

eatbreakfast · Dec 9, 2018

Agreed. No cause for cocern yet.

Captain Quint · Dec 9, 2018

Hope yours is okay. I had one go missing. After ~6 months I was doing something in the tank and found it in the OF...gah, I couldn't believe it was still healthy and ok. It was happy to get back into the DT.

Have you checked your OF?

ca1ore · Dec 9, 2018

I see no real point in going digging for it - it’s either fine or it’s not. Generally, behavior change in an established fish is not a good thing. I’d certainly consider that it may have jumped. Unless your system is right on the edge, a single dead fish won’t generate ammonia.

Tanggy · Dec 9, 2018

GOOD NEWS. He's out today. Thanks for all your input/help.

cracker · Dec 9, 2018

Excellent ! Is the fish eating yet?

4FordFamily · Dec 9, 2018

eatbreakfast said:
Agreed. No cause for cocern yet.

ca1ore said:
I see no real point in going digging for it - it’s either fine or it’s not. Generally, behavior change in an established fish is not a good thing. I’d certainly consider that it may have jumped. Unless your system is right on the edge, a single dead fish won’t generate ammonia.

Agree.

I see that he’s now out, is he acting normally?

Tanggy · Dec 9, 2018

I saw him out this morning. I am out of the house until tonight. Hope he is still out and about. Will update when I get back home. Thanks again.

Tanggy · Dec 9, 2018

Update: just got home and he's hiding again. When I saw him out this morning he seems a bit spooked. At least I know he's still alive. Hopefully he'll recover from what he's going through.

HumuhumuFan · Dec 10, 2018

Tanggy said:
Update: just got home and he's hiding again. When I saw him out this morning he seems a bit spooked. At least I know he's still alive. Hopefully he'll recover from what he's going through.

Mine went through a phase like that last year. He hid for 3 days and then returned. I think it’s pretty normal for them to do that from time to time as long as they’re eating.

4FordFamily · Dec 10, 2018

Tanggy said:
Update: just got home and he's hiding again. When I saw him out this morning he seems a bit spooked. At least I know he's still alive. Hopefully he'll recover from what he's going through.

Well, I hope it’s no big deal and he recovers fine!

Tanggy · Dec 10, 2018

I came home today for lunch and he was out. Seems like he's being bullied by the lineatus wrasse. Weird thing is the Melanarus was the one that bullied the lineatus before (occasional short chases). Seems like the table are turned. He's hiding right now. I'll keep a close eye on them and if this bullying continues, i'll probably have to part with the melanurus...