New Leopard Wrasse Need help!!

[JenniferMcK]

I received my 2 leopard wrasse today. 1 was a replacement and the other I bought in hopes of them being better off together. So I made up a qt in advance with a few pieces of rock (will be taken out when eating frozen well before I start copper) and about 3 inches of sand, along with a hob and sponge filter that was seeded from dt. Since my lfs has a waiting list and I was up next and 1 of these wrasse was a replacement, it was either take them or someone else would. They do not hold for anyone to observe unfortunately. So they fed both of them, and they both ate mysis and blood worms while I watched. I decided to get them. When I got them in my qt at home, the smaller one swam around before diving into the sand, the bigger one just laid on the sand for a few hours looking half dead so I decided to just periodically look in on it. It was breathing heavy and kind of rolling over like it was really weak and getting caught in the current, so I decided to dose methylene blue just incase of ammonia poisoning since it had been in the bag for 24 hrs. I've also heard methylene blue helps with stress. I dosed it into the qt instead of bath in fear of stressing it even more. It stopped breathing as rapidly and started moving more. I tried to feed just incase but neither ate. Not worried about that ( I stocked the qt with pods) so I let it be. 30 minutes later, it has also buried itself. I can't see it but I know it's in there somewhere. The smaller one has its mouth stuck out of the sand and is changing positions periodically. My question is: is this normal? Or should I be concerned? I also want to note that the bigger one looks to be transitioning to male. It has a more blue tint to it.

 

[HotRocks]

They are very sensitive fish. I have had them go into the sand for an entire week before emerging upon acclimation to a new tank. Usually it takes them at least 2-3 days to get acclimated to lighting schedule, feeding time, etc.

I have even had them hide in the sand for a few days when moving them from QT to DT. I thought my potters were gone because they hid for several days upon DT acclimation. Then one day both of them emerged and ate like nothing ever happened. Still great today over a year later. They are very systematic IME. I use a light timer and feed them 1 hour after lights are up on QT.

I have a few of the 8 (all separate species of the macropharyngodon genus except I have two potters) in my DT that are buried in the sand by 4pm even though my lights are on until 9pm. They like a routine.

 

[JenniferMcK]

They are very sensitive fish. I have had them go into the sand for an entire week before emerging upon acclimation to a new tank. Usually it takes them at least 2-3 days to get acclimated to lighting schedule, feeding time, etc.

I have even had them hide in the sand for a few days when moving them from QT to DT. I thought my potters were gone because they hid for several days upon DT acclimation. Then one day both of them emerged and ate like nothing ever happened. Still great today over a year later. They are very systematic IME. I use a light timer and feed them 1 hour after lights are up on QT.

I have a few of the 8 (all separate species of the macropharyngodon genus except I have two potters) in my DT that are buried in the sand by 4pm even though my lights are on until 9pm. They like a routine.

Thanks for all the info. I've done alot of reading on them before attempting them just to prepare myself for them. And then I bought one last week and didn't realize until I got it home that it had a pretty big injury on its back so that's why I got a replacement. I almost chose store credit instead, but I love the look of these wrasse so here I am at it again. do these wrasse lay on the sand when they're dying or do they do that when they're stressed after shipping? I'm just really worried my bigger one isn't going to make it.

 

[Idoc]

Thanks for all the info. I've done alot of reading on them before attempting them just to prepare myself for them. And then I bought one last week and didn't realize until I got it home that it had a pretty big injury on its back so that's why I got a replacement. I almost chose store credit instead, but I love the look of these wrasse so here I am at it again. do these wrasse lay on the sand when they're dying or do they do that when they're stressed after shipping? I'm just really worried my bigger one isn't going to make it.

Normal behavior upon initially receiving leopards. As previously mentioned, they can bury and hide for days before coming out again. Just give them time to calm themselves and definitely don't go digging for them. You can do an ammonia test occasionally to see if there is a sudden spike which could mean one died in the sand. But, good odds they will pop out and be hungry.

I thought my leopards are buried for a week, but then noticed they would come out for an hour or so and then bury again in the beginning. Eventually they came out longer and more regularly.

Focus on feeding medicated foods quickly after you get them trained to frozen, though. They are very prone to internal parasites and worms. By the time you might notice, one may have already stopped eating and then there is no hope. Sadly I lost one of mine to this in quarantine and was left with only one now.

 

[HotRocks]

I have never had one die when burrowed.

Laying on the sand is concerning. It's 50/50. Reduced flow, high oxygen, low stress and lighting are best right now.

 

[JenniferMcK]

I have never had one die when burrowed.

Laying on the sand is concerning. It's 50/50. Reduced flow, high oxygen, low stress and lighting are best right now.

That's what I thought I needed to do. Added airstone, dosed methylene blue, kept lights off during acc and ever since, and keeping my kids out of there lol. They're both buried now. The smaller one has its head poked out and was watching me when I checked on a 2nd tank in my fish room. I'm hoping for the best. Thanks for all the great advice!

 

[JenniferMcK]

Normal behavior upon initially receiving leopards. As previously mentioned, they can bury and hide for days before coming out again. Just give them time to calm themselves and definitely don't go digging for them. You can do an ammonia test occasionally to see if there is a sudden spike which could mean one died in the sand. But, good odds they will pop out and be hungry.

I thought my leopards are buried for a week, but then noticed they would come out for an hour or so and then bury again in the beginning. Eventually they came out longer and more regularly.

Focus on feeding medicated foods quickly after you get them trained to frozen, though. They are very prone to internal parasites and worms. By the time you might notice, one may have already stopped eating and then there is no hope. Sadly I lost one of mine to this in quarantine and was left with only one now.

My plan is to start soaking food in General Cure tomorrow and if they aren't eating to dose in the water and then start copper after I've done that. I've heard so many stories about these wrasse having worms like you, that I'm changing my plans around just to be on top of it. Thank you for all that info!

 

[HotRocks]

That's what I thought I needed to do. Added airstone, dosed methylene blue, kept lights off during acc and ever since, and keeping my kids out of there lol. They're both buried now. The smaller one has its head poked out and was watching me when I checked on a 2nd tank in my fish room. I'm hoping for the best. Thanks for all the great advice!

You are doing all of the right things. The fact the fish went for the sand is a good sign

Keep us posted!

 

[JenniferMcK]

You are doing all of the right things. The fact the fish went for the sand is a good sign

Keep us posted!

As of this morning, they're both buried in the sand. Can't see either but I know they're there. I went ahead and turned the room light on and fed some mysis just a small bit. Neither came out but I'm not concerned, since they can stay buried for weeks. Should I go ahead and start general cure or wait until I know they're out and about and eating? I would dose into the water since they aren't out eating yet and then start feeding as soon as they are out and eating. I don't want to kill off the pods yet since I'm not sure that they're eating frozen as well as I want, but also, like many people have stated, internal parasites caused them to die very quickly.

 

[HotRocks]

As of this morning, they're both buried in the sand. Can't see either but I know they're there. I went ahead and turned the room light on and fed some mysis just a small bit. Neither came out but I'm not concerned, since they can stay buried for weeks. Should I go ahead and start general cure or wait until I know they're out and about and eating? I would dose into the water since they aren't out eating yet and then start feeding as soon as they are out and eating. I don't want to kill off the pods yet since I'm not sure that they're eating frozen as well as I want, but also, like many people have stated, internal parasites caused them to die very quickly.

I would not feed/medicate them if they are not coming out of the sand. As soon as they begin eating then I would add the meds to the food right away. A light over the tank may help get them out of the sand and more active ready to feed.

 

[JenniferMcK]

I would not feed/medicate them if they are not coming out of the sand. As soon as they begin eating then I would add the meds to the food right away. A light over the tank may help get them out of the sand and more active ready to feed.

Ok thanks for thank. I'll leave them be. I'll try turning on their tank light and see what happens. Will keep you posted.

 

[JenniferMcK]

Update: 1 is peaking out

 

[Shawna Solomon]

I bought one a couple weeks ago. As soon as I put him in the tank he went straight into the sand and I didn't see him for two days. Now he is one of the most active fish in my tank. He still sleeps in the sand every night after the last feeding and he will not come out until the lights come back on. Hes so deep in the sand I can see him when looking underneath the tank. It's pretty cool lol. The only thing mine at in the beginning was mysis but he eventually ate flakes and now pellets also.

 

[JenniferMcK]

I bought one a couple weeks ago. As soon as I put him in the tank he went straight into the sand and I didn't see him for two days. Now he is one of the most active fish in my tank. He still sleeps in the sand every night after the last feeding and he will not come out until the lights come back on. Hes so deep in the sand I can see him when looking underneath the tank. It's pretty cool lol. The only thing mine at in the beginning was mysis but he eventually ate flakes and now pellets also.

That's how mine are behaving right now too. It's day 3 and they're still buried. I topped off some pods and I'm hoping they come out today so I can try to feed them.

 

[JenniferMcK]

Update 2:
The smaller one is peaking out again. I just restocked pods and ordered some more from algeabarn.com just to make sure they're not starving. She also came out for about 5 minutes so I tried to feed mysis. She took one look at me and dove back under. The bigger one I seen move under the sand yesterday so I know it's still alive. They haven't ate to my knowledge since I got them. But there's pods in there so hopefully they're getting something isn't heir tummies. Here's a pic of the one peaking out

 

[JenniferMcK]

Update 2.1(lol)
So my smaller one popped out and I left her for a while. She's very timid and only swimming around one area and hiding behind a rock when she sees me. I made up some frozen mysis, added a tiny bit of garlic and selcon, fed it to her, and she ate like a pig! 2 seconds later my bigger one popped it's head out. I guess it was the garlic Hopefully he'll come fully out and eat soon too. I'm so excited tbh. These are my favorite fish I've waited so long to own, quarantine, and keep bc of it being a more expert fish. Please everyone keep your fingers crossed for me. If the bigger one eats today, I'll be feeding GC and also 2 rounds for flukes tomorrow. Then starting copper after that is complete. I'm just taking my time with the little gals/(possibly)guy.

 

[Idoc]

That's how mine are behaving right now too. It's day 3 and they're still buried. I topped off some pods and I'm hoping they come out today so I can try to feed them.

I thought my leopards were buried for a week until I came home from work and found them out and about the quarantine tank. On my day off, I watched more closely and found they were coming out for about an hour or two daily then burying again. Eventually, they would come out for longer. Now in the DT, my remaining leopard is out all day and well into the evening.

 

[JenniferMcK]

I thought my leopards were buried for a week until I came home from work and found them out and about the quarantine tank. On my day off, I watched more closely and found they were coming out for about an hour or two daily then burying again. Eventually, they would come out for longer. Now in the DT, my remaining leopard is out all day and well into the evening.

I can't wait for mine to be out and about. They both came out and swam around for about an hr. Then I accidentally spooked them and haven't seen them since I can see ones mouth under the sand on the side of the tank though lol

 

[JenniferMcK]

Update:
So my smaller wrasse has been eating mysis 3 days straight. She keeps coming out of the sand a little earlier everyday. The larger one hasn't come out since day before yesterday. But I think they're coming out at night because I keep seeing fish poop laying in the sand when I turn the lights on. Hoping it makes an appearance today so I can see if it'll eat so I start treatment soon