Question on Leopard Wrasses

[shaggydoo]

Hello. I am hoping we have some leopard wrasse experts on here. I have had one female leopard for about a year now, and I found an extremely healthy smaller female a few weeks ago. I now have the pair and am hoping one will change to male, but for now they are getting along very well with their female patterning.

My older wrasse goes in and out of the sand like clockwork, every day she is out/in exactly 30 minutes after/before lights go on/out, and she established this schedule after being in my tank only a few days. However, my newer wrasse is all over the board. Today, she came out about 10 seconds after lights on and was back in bed about 6 hours before lights out. Other days she stays in the sand for hours after lights on and stays up til within an hour or two of lights out.

So, my questions are, will they eventually synchronize their wake-up and go-to-bed times? Also, will they burrow together as they are currently in separate (though somewhat close) spots?

 

[reefndude]

I'm no expert but mine did the same thing as yoiur new one. Then decided to disappear for three weeks. When she finally decided to make a showing again she would appear around 2 or 3 pm and gone after a few hours. That went on for another week. She now seems to have adjusted to my light schedule.

 

[evolved]

Yes, it will adjust to your photoperiod, but that may take a few weeks.

As for where they choose to bury, it will be where ever they deem best, irrespective of the other.

 

[Hersheyb]

yup, they'll eventually sync... it took about a week after mine pair sync for the larger female to start changing to a male. Pretty cool to watch it change.

 

[shaggydoo]

Thank you all. Sounds like they will keep sleeping in their own spots but should hopefully get a closer sleep schedule. It has been over three weeks and the little one is still not getting it. Daylight savings did just happen, and that messes with them for a day or two. Guess each leopard can take their own sweet time about adjusting to a light schedule. At least the new leopard is finally starting to eat frozen. Took her longer than my first one to figure that out too.

 

[ksfulk]

One of my leopards is out as soon as the lights come on, and buries when the lights go off - the other is out about an hour or so later, and is in the sand by 5pm (about 3 hours before lights ramp down) - theyve been that way for 2+ years.

 

[shaggydoo]

One of my leopards is out as soon as the lights come on, and buries when the lights go off - the other is out about an hour or so later, and is in the sand by 5pm (about 3 hours before lights ramp down) - theyve been that way for 2+ years.

This is really good to know. My first wrasse set a standard schedule so fast, I was starting to think my second one might be a bit slow in the head. But, I guess each wrasse sets its own schedule on its own time and I just better get used to it.