Wrasse Anxiety?

[AmaleeC]

I have had a juvenile melanarus wrasse for almost a year. Originally, it was in a 20gallon with a neon goby, a lawnmower blenny, and a maroon clown (overstocked, ik). Four months ago I upgraded to a 75gallon and he’s been unhappy ever since. He spends most of his days glass surfing. No other fish pick on him besides my maroon clown when he gets too close to the overflow. Any thoughts?

 

[Chef Mateo]

I have had a juvenile melanarus wrasse for almost a year. Originally, it was in a 20gallon with a neon goby, a lawnmower blenny, and a maroon clown (overstocked, ik). Four months ago I upgraded to a 75gallon and he’s been unhappy ever since. He spends most of his days glass surfing. No other fish pick on him besides my maroon clown when he gets too close to the overflow. Any thoughts?

What kind of behavior do you mean by unhappy? Just the glass surfing?

 

[AmaleeC]

What kind of behavior do you mean by unhappy? Just the glass surfing?

Yes, just glass surfing. He eats well & isn’t aggressive towards other fish. My yellow coris wrasse is smaller than him & doesn’t cause any trouble. He doesn’t pick on any newly added fish either.

 

[Chef Mateo]

Yes, just glass surfing. He eats well & isn’t aggressive towards other fish. My yellow coris wrasse is smaller than him & doesn’t cause any trouble. He doesn’t pick on any newly added fish either.

Was he much more active before in the smaller tank or more aggressive? It may be that the more space has just made him mellow out and become less stressed.

 

[AmaleeC]

Yes, just glass surfing. He eats well & isn’t aggressive towards other fish. My yellow coris wrasse is smaller than him & doesn’t cause any trouble. He doesn’t pick on any newly added fish either.

Come to think of it, I can’t quite recall when it started exactly. But I know he didn’t always do this & I know he didn’t do it in the 20gallon. Technically, “he” is still a “she” or a juvenile. By now I would’ve thought that she’d make the transformation, but I guess not..

 

[AmaleeC]

Was he much more active before in the smaller tank or more aggressive? It may be that the more space has just made him mellow out and become less stressed.

Yes, he was always active in the 20 gallon, just cruising around.

 

[Chef Mateo]

Yes, he was always active in the 20 gallon, just cruising around.

Maybe one of your new fish in the 75 is bugging him? Not sure maybe just became less active with age?

 

[AmaleeC]

Maybe one of your new fish in the 75 is bugging him? Not sure maybe just became less active with age?

He’s still very active & far from mellowed out. He glasses surfaces almost all day. I’m thinking it could be the white light, but I had the tank on all blues not too long ago and I believe his behavior was the same

 

[Scurvy]

Just my opinion but I’m beginning to think I notice more fish chasing their Reflections in Blue Lit, Starphire/Ultra Clear tanks... I’ve noticed on/off as Ive tweaked my lights the last couple of years the more blue the more they chase themselves. I recently swapped to Radions running AB+ and had my Powder Blue Go crazy chasing his reflection all day/every day. never did it before but Ive never had this blue of lighting.

Just anecdotal on my part I admit but Ive been giving it some though lately as well. I re-homed the PBT since he was getting a bit big for my tank anyway but still notice my Radiant wrasse chasing his reflection mornings and evenings during the bluest periods.

 

[homer1475]

Just my opinion but I’m beginning to think I notice more fish chasing their Reflections in Blue Lit, Starphire/Ultra Clear tanks... I’ve noticed on/off as Ive tweaked my lights the last couple of years the more blue the more they chase themselves. I recently swapped to Radions running AB+ and had my Powder Blue Go crazy chasing his reflection all day/every day. never did it before but Ive never had this blue of lighting.

Just anecdotal on my part I admit but Ive been giving it some though lately as well. I re-homed the PBT since he was getting a bit big for my tank anyway but still notice my Radiant wrasse chasing his reflection mornings and evenings during the bluest periods.

Interesting observation!

I've noticed lately(because you know, we have been home more) that at night when I have just my reefbrites on(I run a 6 bulb T5 setup), which is mainly blue, my flame back angel paces the glass.

I figured since it was almost night time, it might have been just burning off some excess energy before going to bed? But now that you mention it, I'll have to watch and see if it isn't just chasing it's reflection.

 

[AmaleeC]

Interesting observations everyone. I’ve been playing with the lights, they’re two Viparspectra’s. All whites, all blues, and completely off. She paces all the same. No matter what colors are on the lights, she can still see her reflection. So it could be the glass. I wonder what would happen if I rehomed her and got another melanarus. Would it do the same? I wonder if fish chasing their own reflection depends only on the fish.

 

[homer1475]

My flame back angel is the only one that paces the glass, and only at night. Any other time of the day it's cruising the entire tank.

My melanarus sticks mainly to my rockwork.

 

[Scurvy]

I do think you’ll see variations In behavior from fish to fish of the same species. Sometimes they get enamored with themselves and sometimes they dont. Just like a human I suppose

Whenever there’s a sudden change of behavior I do tend to think about what I have changed recently that may have caused the reaction. In this case lighting/glass feel like the the obvious candidates but maybe its just maturing and suddenly feels its reflection is a threat when a month ago it wasn’t..

 

[AmaleeC]

I do think you’ll see variations In behavior from fish to fish of the same species. Sometimes they get enamored with themselves and sometimes they dont. Just like a human I suppose

Whenever there’s a sudden change of behavior I do tend to think about what I have changed recently that may have caused the reaction. In this case lighting/glass feel like the the obvious candidates but maybe its just maturing and suddenly feels its reflection is a threat when a month ago it wasn’t..

That’s very true! Thank you for this contribution

I've been busy with homework, but just peeked at the tank and she’s doing well with just the blue light on. The whites are only on for a few hours of the day, and she’s not hurting herself so I suppose it’s okay.. I hope to see her change colors in the future. I’m excited for that transition. Wrasse can be fun!

 

[najer]

Just my opinion but I’m beginning to think I notice more fish chasing their Reflections in Blue Lit, Starphire/Ultra Clear tanks... I’ve noticed on/off as Ive tweaked my lights the last couple of years the more blue the more they chase themselves. I recently swapped to Radions running AB+ and had my Powder Blue Go crazy chasing his reflection all day/every day. never did it before but Ive never had this blue of lighting.

This, I run a T5 hybrid and my copperband surfs whilst the leds ramp up in the morning and calms done once the T5s start to come on. Custom opti-white tank (England).

 

[evolved]

He's pacing off with the rival male he sees (his reflection).