Bipartius in QT... need help

[AirForceAquariu]

Ok. So I have a healthy Bipartius in QT. First night I released over the sand filled tupperware and in she went. She ate today and was out and about.

Tonight I turned out the lights and she panicked and went everywhere but back to her sand. I was worried she would hurt herself so I guided her with a net to the sand and in she went. Will she figure it out? Do I need to help her along the way?

 

[eatbreakfast]

She will figure it out, there is a lot of new things going on, getting the lights on a timer so she can "expect" lights going out at the same time everyday will help stop the panic response.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Ok, that is good to know. She is eating frozen and actively hunting around QT, which I should be thankful for. I just worry that she will hurt herself trying to dive in to the filter pad I used to start up the QT (just a sponge basically) or the BB. Would you advise guiding her towards the sand if she continues bumping her head after lights out?

She is my first leopard and I have wanted a bipartius for awhile so I am being a mother hen about it.

 

[evolved]

I wouldn't; you might end up inducing more stress than you feel you're relieving.

She'll figure it out in a few days.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Thanks Hunter! I trust your resident wrasse expertise. I was only worried since I have heard they can hurt their mouths and teeth diving on the glass. The tupperware is a few inches high and she never seemed to wander back to it.

 

[evolved]

TJ's suggestion of a light timer is one to take seriously too.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Oh yes, I already have one on there. I sometimes end up waking them up slightly earlier if I have to go in to work early so I can feed. Bed time is easy though.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Ok so I got home from work and she was out. She ate some LRS tonight (trying to see what she likes... seems everything) and then lights out came around 2100. 2.5 hours later I was getting in bed and checked and she was breathing heavily and panicking again. I guided here to the sand with the net and in she dove.

I know this was against advice, but I made the command decision to get her some sleep and alleviate the stress. Hopefully tomorrow goes better.

 

[FDAWG]

Good luck Mike. I will soon start my journey with this wrasse too.

 

[Nina51]

when i got my vrolik's wrasse, i tried the "container of sand" route and he never seemed to find it. after a couple of days, i just dumped the sand in one corner of the qt. with the sand a little more spread out, he took to it immediately. i assume you aren't doing ttm or medicating with anything that would require you to change out the sand so it might be something you could consider. what i had wasn't terribly deep but he always managed to bury himself just fine.

peek-a-boo!
<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Ninapearl/media/TANK/haha_zps5144e179.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/TANK/haha_zps5144e179.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo haha_zps5144e179.jpg"/></a>

it never really occurred to me that fish can tell time but now this makes sense. my lights have always been on a timer. i notice that my coris wrasse almost always sand dives a few minutes before the lights go off for the night. you can be pretty much guaranteed that he pops up at 11:00 a.m. every single day.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

FDAWG: Thanks! I will probably keep a bit of a journal as she goes through here just so it will be searchable for people in the future. I didn't find to much about this specific problem so hopefully it will help. Getting a healthy fish is key! I waited a long time for this batch and luckily my LFS took great care of them and help one for me so I was confident and prepared. She has eaten everything I have thrown in there (mysis, brine, LRS etc...).

Nina: That is the point I am getting to. I think I will re-arrange the PVC in there a bit and dedicate the back corner to sand. I already treated the rest of my population for ich and unless she shows some sign of disease over the QT/observation period I will not be over stressing her.
I figure that they have a circadian rhythm much like other creatures. My body knows when it's bedtime.... now I just wish my body would agree with my boss about when "wake-up" time is :spin2:

 

[Nina51]

I think I will re-arrange the PVC in there a bit and dedicate the back corner to sand.

i think that would make for a happy wrasse.

i hear ya about wake up time. i don't know why it is but on the days i work and the alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m., all i wanna do is stay in bed. but, on the days i don't work, i wake up at 4:00 a.m., feet hit the floor running (well, maybe not running, more like stumbling) and i'm ready to take on the world. go figure!

 

[AirForceAquariu]

I will probably do that when I get home today!

I can't complain though. I know when I stay up late messing about on the internet or chatting with people over some brews. That definitely correlates to my "hard mornings".... that or a good day at the gym.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Update: SHE FIGURED IT OUT!!!

Unfortunately she decided bedtime was 1830 and so she went to bed without dinner. She wasn't out this morning so I will make sure she gets some food when I get home from work.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Another Update in case anyone still is reading or searches this down:

She has taken to spending most of her day in the sand. I know she is alive since i have seen her come out (maybe 10 or so minutes at a time). I am not sure why she has now taken to hiding but hopefully it won't last to long.