confused leopard wrasse

[Moonstream]

I added a small 'green male leopard wrasse' to my 75g reef yesterday (no I did not QT, I believe that QT is unesisarily stressful) and he seems a bit umm... confused.

I was poking around in the sand (because I was very afraid that he might have died) and he shot out. since then he has been pacing the front glass. I am quite worried about him, and I am afraid that I might kill him!!!!!!!!!

what do I do? I turned the lights off, and fed a bit when he came out in hopes of calming him down or distracting him, he ignored food and kept pacing the glass. I have left the lights off and dont plan to turn them back on for the rest of the day. is he just getting used to captivity?

 

[R.W.]

He may not have adjusted his internal clock to your lights yet. Also i would refrain from playing with the sand for the next few weeks to avoid disturbing him.

 

[Moonstream]

yeah, I figured that out LOL. unfortionatly I dont have a light cycle. they turn on when I get up and off at about 9. during the school year they usually go on at about 8, during the summer they go on anywhere from 10 to 12 in the morning.

 

[flfireman1]

Invest in a timer, they are inexpensive and get your fish on a schedule.

Also, never heard of a green leopard wrasse. Do you have a pic? Further, Ive actually never seen a small "male" since they usually turn from female to male after maturing for a bit. I may be wrong, but that is my experience with these fish and info Ive read.

 

[Moonstream]

I have a few concerns. first of all, I read that they need to be treated for worms, is this true? second of all, I have noticed that the fish doesnt seem to want to go into the sand. it spends most of its time pacing the glass in the corner near the overflow, and every now and then it will stop moving and lay slightly curled on the sand, breathing hard and looking around quickly.

it did eat some of the frozen mysis I fed to the tank, but I now have a new problem. my yellow coris wrasse has decided that the leopard is a threat and has repeatedly charged it. I wouldnt worry if the leopard was doing well, but it seems as if this is a bad thing. I got a small critter keeper that i can put the leopard in with some sand and maybe a bit of chaeto, with holes drilled in it, a PH poniting at it and regular feeding if needed, but I dont know if this would be helpful or harmful????


I dont have any pictures, but it looks like a normal female with a greenish tint, the pattern looks like that of a splendid leopard.

 

[Rendos]

Sounds like a meleagris. They are commonly called green leopards on wholesale lists.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13186526#post13186526 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Moonstream
yeah, I figured that out LOL. unfortionatly I dont have a light cycle. they turn on when I get up and off at about 9. during the school year they usually go on at about 8, during the summer they go on anywhere from 10 to 12 in the morning.

get your lights on a timer ASAP.
Leopard Wrasses have internal clocks and will (eventually) bed down and wake up at the exact same time every day.
Placing a Leopard Wrasse in a small cage will be it's kiss of death- you need to give it free reign over your 75 so it has access to food (pods, forams, etc.) all day long.
Consider removing the yellow coris before it stresses out your Leopard. Once the Macropharyngodon is acclimated and doing well you should be able to re-introduce the coris.

 

[Moonstream]

I dont know how I can capture the yellow coris without having to pull all the rock... Im going to wait it out for another day, if aggression continues, Ill have to remove the yellow coris.

 

[RokleM]

I agree that removing the coris might be necessary, and absolutely stop poking at the sand. Imagine finally getting to sleep in a new hostile environment and someone coming and shaking you awake violently.