Melanurus wrasse dosent come out of sand

[Reef137]

Today is second day that my melanurus wrasse stay inside sand bed. No distress signal or sign. Should i send in rescue team.

[antoneoh]

Thats what mine did for a few days when I first got him. Now he comes out in the morning then goes back in the sandbed midday then won't come back out until the next morning.

[Reef137]

Opps, sorry i forgot to say that i have this wrasse for over a year now. It has been a model citizen, go to sleep in sand bed and wake up, come out very on time. Until yesterday and today, no sight of him.

[Squid]

Edit: just saw you've had him for a year. Any recent changes or additions to the tank?

[Reef137]

It's part of the acclimation process. Most likely hes not used to your lighting schedule and you just have to wait for him to adjus

I have not changed any lighting schedule. I have this 90 gallon going for over a year now, with nothing new added, no rescape.

[Reef137]

Pic taken 5/16/15

[jason142]

Maybe someone started bullying it. I have had wrasses for a long time and that is one thing I have noticed, they will hide if bullied, maybe you just didn't see it. Just recently my male meleagris leopard was hiding because my female clown was pissed at it. I didn't notice it till he came out and she chased him from all the way across the tank as soon as she seen him and he is 3 times the size she is.

[Reef137]

Maybe someone started bullying it. I have had wrasses for a long time and that is one thing I have noticed, they will hide if bullied, maybe you just didn't see it. Just recently my male meleagris leopard was hiding because my female clown was pissed at it. I didn't notice it till he came out and she chased him from all the way across the tank as soon as she seen him and he is 3 times the size she is.

Thanks for your input. I wonder who bullie him. I have a yellow tang (obviously), a pair firefish, a lyretail, a cardinal, a coral beauty, a royal grama, a paid of cleaner shrimps. I dont like to send in submarine ( chop stick) to locate him.

[Squid]

I've seen coral beauties turn into bullies so maybe that or the cleaner shrimp are just bugging him too much

[goldenchild]

I have had the same problem except mine has been gone for over 3 weeks now. He was the biggest guy in the tank about 4 inches ate everything and was the bully of the tank. Been hoping he would come out but I think hes a goner

[Reef137]

I have had the same problem except mine has been gone for over 3 weeks now. He was the biggest guy in the tank about 4 inches ate everything and was the bully of the tank. Been hoping he would come out but I think hes a goner

Oh no, sorry to hear that. Did you try to find him or just let him rest in the sand?

[Reef137]

Well, Rip my wrasse. Just found it float up. By the look, probaly dead fof awhile.

[Reef137]

Going to change 10 gallon water now, just in case.