Mystery Wrasse?

The Saltwater Kid · Feb 28, 2012

I just bought a juvenile Mystery Wrasse. he is about 1-1/2" long. I added him to my 40g breeder with two established fish, a Yellow Tang (2-1/2") and a Foxface Rabbitfish (2-1/2")...befoe anybody hammers on me about having those two fish in such a small tank they were bought stritcly as rentals to take care of an algae problem which they've done a magnificent job of and when they get too big or start showing signs of stress I will remove them and bring them back to my LFS. Back to the reason for this post, after adding my Mystery Wrasse he swam around the first afternoon exploring and the other two fish did try and intimidate him by rushing him with fins flared but he didn't seem overly impressed and just kept out of their way as best he could. That was Sunday afternoon and I haven't seen him since...should I be worried? I know that Wrasses bury themselves in the sand when sleeping or threatened, do you think he's just hiding until he thinks the other two fish have forgotten about him or do you think I should fear the worst...the other two larger fish have killed him and the hermits have disposed of his body?

ingtar_shinowa · Feb 28, 2012

Keep an eye out. I've had fish hide for a long time. That being said I sorta think this is a sign of territorial stress from being in a 40b ;-) Also tangs can just be mean.

evolved · Feb 28, 2012

The Psuedocheilinus does NOT bury in the sand when frightened. If he's hiding, he'd be in your rockwork. However, I must ask: Is your tank covered?

KYLECT · Feb 28, 2012

They do like to jump. Wait a couple of days though, i have had mine hide for a couple days and reappear. Good luck, they are definetly one of my favorite fish.

The Saltwater Kid · Feb 28, 2012

Yes, my tank has a mesh screen top.

The Saltwater Kid · Feb 28, 2012

I've actually read on several different sites that they DO bury themselves...is there a definitive answer?

capt85 · Feb 28, 2012

Along with the do you have a top question do you own a cat or dog?

The Saltwater Kid · Feb 28, 2012

I do have a dog but she pays no attention to the tank whatsoever plus as mentioned above I do have a top for my tank.

The Saltwater Kid · Feb 29, 2012

Anyone else? He hasn't appeared at feeding time and I'm begining to fear for the worst

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Dowtish · Feb 29, 2012

it's a mystery.....

The Saltwater Kid · Feb 29, 2012

That helps a lot...thanks

oh:.

Dowtish · Feb 29, 2012

Sorry, I had to. I had a friend that this exact same thing happened to. He put the fish in the tank, it went under some rocks, and he never saw it again. I know that doesnt help, but this is unfortunately reality sometimes. I have also heard of folks not seeing fish for weeks, and sometimes months, and suddenly they appear. So just keep watching and checking your levels

The Saltwater Kid · Feb 29, 2012

Well, I am thinking of adding another larger one but I want to be sure that the first small one didn't make it before i add another one...these are beautiful fish but aren't cheap! I'll give it until this Sunday...that will make an entire week and if I still don't see him by than I will assume the worse and possibly order another larger one this time.

Saltgator · Feb 29, 2012

Mine ''does'' sleep beneath the sand. Also, all 3 of my tangs (a black, chevron, and orange shoulder) have very small disputes with the mystery in my 125 (soon to be 240). I would bet that the yellow took 3 fish and said that was too many. Wish you were closer, mine will be relocating a new home after his dismissal of my flame wrasse.

Country boy using tapatalk from Evo 4g

reef_freak · Feb 29, 2012

The Saltwater Kid said:
Well, I am thinking of adding another larger one but I want to be sure that the first small one didn't make it before i add another one...these are beautiful fish but aren't cheap! I'll give it until this Sunday...that will make an entire week and if I still don't see him by than I will assume the worse and possibly order another larger one this time.

I might would rehome the two larger fish prior to doing this. Just my 2 cents.

The Saltwater Kid · Feb 29, 2012

reef_freak I was thinking along the same lines. I have a wish list for fish for my tank: mystery wrasse, flame angel, starkii damsel and lawnmower blenny so obviously the two fish i have currently are not on that list and will be relocated, they were bought for a purpose which was to rid the tank of algae and they did a wonderful job...of course catching them will not be fun, may have to DIY a fish trap first

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dre_jcsutton · Mar 2, 2012

Wait it out and hope for the best.

Bayoureef · Mar 2, 2012

Have you checked the overflow or sump. That is first place I look when some thing goes missing. Once they go over once it seems certain fish or shrimp keep going back over the overflow.