Where the helanarus is my melanarus?

[Chefbill]

I bought a dusky wrasse it immediately buried itself. Two days later I saw it for one hour. 8 days later I saw it for a few seconds. I did not see it for 7 weeks. Within the last 10 days its been out all day everyday though it is the first fish to sleep

 

[evolved]

Idk if for fun, aggression, but it was funny honestly

Sorry to say, but for food. She's going to eat some.

 

[Oldsalt01]

I had exactly the same thing happen with a Clown Wrasse back in the 70's. Totally freaked me out, tore the tank apart to find him only to have him pop out of the stand in a very grumpy mood. He would dive into the sand every afternoon about 3:30. It took me a while to realize he was wild caught and was still on Pacific time. Too funny. He'll acclimate and set his own schedule.

 

[Eel Steve]

I love it already. It's very energetic and explorative. Seems to prefer to lower / middle water column.

 

[Oldsalt01]

They are SO much fun and really have great personalities. Like little old ladies (no offense, little old ladies), they love to know everything going on in their community. My Gaimard was a joy for many years. Got 'Pods for it?

 

[Eel Steve]

They are SO much fun and really have great personalities. Like little old ladies (no offense, little old ladies), they love to know everything going on in their community. My Gaimard was a joy for many years. Got 'Pods for it?

It took me a minute to figure out what you meant. No, do they only eat copepods? It was having fun ripping apart some clams, flake food, and at least one of my CUC mexican red legged hermits heh.

I have this 10 gallon tank that's unfilled someone suggested I use as a copepod breeder. I guess I should do that?

 

[Eel Steve]

My GF snagged the best pic so far

 

[Oldsalt01]

Not sure about melanarus. My Gaimard cleaned out my 'Pod colony, but was only about 1" when I got him. He also readily took to flake food, but it sounds like yours has settled in nicely and has a taste for shellfish, lol.

 

[Eel Steve]

he's a hermit ha-wrasse-er

 

[jazonPartij]

he's a hermit ha-wrasse-er

You're hysterical

 

[Oldsalt01]

Sounds like he's a little wrasse-kle

 

[Eel Steve]

She cracked us up last night again too, I turn the light off at like 11, and I looked at like 10:30 or :45 and it was just gone, and we were like "guess he went to bed for the night."

He came out pretty quick this morning (10-15 after light came on) so I am no longer phased by the burrowing officially lol.

 

[evolved]

No real reason to worry about having pods with Halichoeres provided you're feeding regularly.

 

[kidzaac87]

Sounds so much like mine, he hides though every time I go near the tank but if I stay still he does come out and acts normal.
Keep them well feed other wise they will eat your cuc or any crustation, I lost a peppermint shrimp and a skunk cleaner shrimp to my wrasse.

 

[Eel Steve]

Sounds so much like mine, he hides though every time I go near the tank but if I stay still he does come out and acts normal.
Keep them well feed other wise they will eat your cuc or any crustation, I lost a peppermint shrimp and a skunk cleaner shrimp to my wrasse.

Note for everyone - melanarus Looovvvveeessss them some frozen chopped squid.

I got some more hermits today to replace the...3? hes potentially killed over the last week (though we arent sure which are molts and which are murders since I'm a newb) and we fed him first before putting them in, because I didn't want him to think the hermits were me presenting him with a meal for the day lol.

Actually now that I think about it, I don't think there's anything edible I've put in the tank yet that he hasn't ate. Once they're out of the sand, real easy fish to please!! My LFS has an adult and we were comparing it today, and shoot, mine is only 2 inches right now. He's gonna like double in size and get soooo purdy.

 

[TheEngineer]

So happy to hear he showed up! I used to have one and it was by far my favorite fish. Although mine did like to find his way into my overflow every few months.

 

[Eel Steve]

Gosh I feel even silly asking at this point because I sort of 75% think the answer is "yes" -

Is it normal for them to wake up really late / on their own schedule, or just not show up certain days? He hasn't popped up yet today.(no fish jerky on the floor or overflow either)

He got a really big meal yesterday so maybe he just doesnt feel like he even has to come out and hunt today? Just taking a day off? heh.

 

[Waters]

Yeah, when they first start adapting to your tank, they often still need to get adjusted to your lighting schedule (fish normally are coming for a radically different time zone). Once they start to feel comfortable and safe (and use to your night and day times), they will hide less and less.

 

[TheEngineer]

Yup. Mine was always a late riser.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Love this genus. Mine goes to bed same time each night and in the gets up same time each morning. Being patient paid off!! Beautiful fish.