First time Wrasse Owner ~ Timor

[TwistedMind]

So I fell in love with a Timor Wrasse my LFS has had for 3 weeks, So I brought him home yesterday. Knowing they are succeptible to stress from shipping and QT he went straight into the DT, after staring at me through the glass for 30 seconds he cruised into my yellow tangs cave, and I haven't seen him since, its been 24 hours.

Im assuming he buried himself, because shortly after entering the cave the water turned really cloudy.

I have looked several times and I can't even figure out where he buried himself.

Anyways, my question. How long do these guys usually stay hidden?

I over feed this morning hoping to entice him out into the tank with the smell and activity of his neighbors eating but no dice.

Not worried yet, but knowing they are fragile fish how long should I wait before starting a search and rescue / body recovery ?

 

[evolved]

Do NOT go digging/search around at any point. If you disturb a live fish in that process, your odds are very much hampered.

It may stay hidden for a week, even two, without appearing and be perfectly fine.

 

[TwistedMind]

10-4 Ill just wait it out.

Really sucks, he was fat, and looked uber healthy, was out cruising the tank at the fish store, Not skitish towards me, put him in my tank and he disappears like a fart in the wind LMAO.

 

[TwistedMind]

Question, just popped into my head. I usually turkey bast my rocks and sand bed, should I suspend this activity? The reason i wanted a wrasse was because they can help me with the sand bed mixing.

Now that hes in there hiding should I just put it off till I see him out and about?

 

[evolved]

You could, but I don't feel that would make much difference. Most likely, you'll see your fish again in 1-3 days.

I've kept a pair of them for nearly a couple years now; they're an easy species once they're adjusted to captivity. Stay calm.

 

[TwistedMind]

Update ~ 48 hours haven't seen it yet. I go back to work monday so hopefully I will get a chance to observe him/her before I have to leave.

 

[MrTuskfish]

So I fell in love with a Timor Wrasse my LFS has had for 3 weeks, So I brought him home yesterday. Knowing they are succeptible to stress from shipping and QT he went straight into the DT, after staring at me through the glass for 30 seconds he cruised into my yellow tangs cave, and I haven't seen him since, its been 24 hours.

Im assuming he buried himself, because shortly after entering the cave the water turned really cloudy.

I have looked several times and I can't even figure out where he buried himself.

Anyways, my question. How long do these guys usually stay hidden?

I over feed this morning hoping to entice him out into the tank with the smell and activity of his neighbors eating but no dice.

Not worried yet, but knowing they are fragile fish how long should I wait before starting a search and rescue / body recovery ?

How do you know that these wrasse are " are succeptible to stress from shipping and QT"
IMO & IME; "Stress" is the most abused word in the hobby. A QT is not a stressful place; quite the opposite. Not directed at anyone in particular, but "stress" has become a common excuse not to use a QT. I don't think there is any fish, from anywhere, that shouldn't be in a QT prior to the DT. The 'stress" of acclimation, food competitors , harassment, etc. is not a factor in the QT. A fish can easily take deadly diseases or parasites into any DT. Now that's stress. No LFS does an adequate job of quarantine either. Wrasse that like to bury themselves can be provided with a plastic tray of substrate in the QT.

 

[TwistedMind]

To late now, but everything I have read says straight into their new permanent home produces the best chance for survival.

If he makes it he makes it, if he doesn't he doesn't and he becomes a expensive meal for the clean up crew.

Dont mean to upset anyones sensabilities but I did what the majority of advice I could find said to do.

 

[MrTuskfish]

To late now, but everything I have read says straight into their new permanent home produces the best chance for survival.

If he makes it he makes it, if he doesn't he doesn't and he becomes a expensive meal for the clean up crew.

Dont mean to upset anyones sensabilities but I did what the majority of advice I could find said to do.

This fish may not only end up being a meal for your CUC, it could have brought any on several parasites or diseases into your tank.
Please point to some of these things you've read. I'm curious; every book , magazine, etc. that I've ever read on our hobby says to quarantine all new fish.

 

[TwistedMind]

It wasn't specific advice on the timor wrasse, I read it in the Loeopard wrasse primer in this sub forum, and a couple other forums that I am not sure it okay to link to so I wont risk it.

Im not here to have a debate on the validity of QT, just updating as the days go by to let anyone who may be interested know my experiance with the fish.

Again, I appolagize if I didn't do it the way that you think is correct. But whats done is done.

Have a wonderful sunday im off to watch the games.

 

[TwistedMind]

Forgot to post ~ 72 hours I haven't seen it yet.

I did however find a shell less dead red legged hermit.

Im not sure if it died fighting for its shell or the wrasse killed it. I am assuming it was a shell battle, I can't see a fish killing an invert and not eating it.

 

[MrTuskfish]

It wasn't specific advice on the timor wrasse, I read it in the Loeopard wrasse primer in this sub forum, and a couple other forums that I am not sure it okay to link to so I wont risk it.

Im not here to have a debate on the validity of QT, just updating as the days go by to let anyone who may be interested know my experiance with the fish.

Again, I appolagize if I didn't do it the way that you think is correct. But whats done is done.

Have a wonderful sunday im off to watch the games.

I don't care how you do things, but 264 folks have seen this thread (as of this posting) and I'd hate to give anyone the idea that NOT quarantining all new fish is a good idea. It isn't, and IMO, is one of the biggest reasons why so many people leave this hobby.

 

[dppitone]

I don't care how you do things, but 264 folks have seen this thread (as of this posting) and I'd hate to give anyone the idea that NOT quarantining all new fish is a good idea. It isn't, and IMO, is one of the biggest reasons why so many people leave this hobby.

Twistedmind, Id like to hear how it turned out with the Timor Wrasse if you would.

And to MrTuskfish, I don't quarantine. IMO it's not necessary unless there is an acute problem. And I haven't lost a fish in years. This is just my opinion.

There are a few "rights" and "wrongs" in this hobby. For example, having a Nitrate level of 50 will be harmful - an assertion that is documented.

But most everything else is guest-imation. Please don't speak like you know the "truth" about various aspects of the hobby. It would be helpful to always preface an assertion with IMO. Like "IMO you should always quarantine." Another example of someone taking over a thread with unsolicited advice - and in this case a rigorous claim that has no footnoted authority to it. The OP here was seeking folks that may have had similar experiences with a Timor Wrasse.

 

[ciodavid]

I think me and you (or you and I) can't remember... Got a wrasse on the same day! Mine is a yellow corris wrasse. I saw him for 1 second on day two, but it has been since Saturday that I have seen him. I too have tried to entice him out with food but he hasn't shown himself. Please keep posting... I'm starting to think he died. Which he was beautiful and healthy and big. My mandarin and shrimp goby are doing awesome, out eating and everyone else is doing great. So I too am holding my breath... Keep us posted!

 

[triggreef]

Normal wrasse activity.

Mr tusk, I agree with your QT rule, modified a bit for leopards but I still qt them none the less. It is stated multiple times through the leopard wrasse thread to go straight to display with them. I dont agree with that but in the case of leopards, it is probably easier since they are so hard. But a properly set up QT can be used with success on them as I've done and am in the process of. I also had a fair bit more casualties of leopards in QT but there are other factors that play into that, (Distributor for example).

Sorry for the off topic.

To the OP, 99% of the time a dying wrasse will come out of the sand to die. Probably because they are trying to breath easier or something. They can "swim under the sand and many believe they eat while buried. I believe they slow their metabolisms down dramatically when buried. That would be an IMO comment. lol

Anyway there is also a good chance he's come out when you were not around to see him. Or maybe he see's you first and dive's. Or comes out at night and dives after a while. Chances are he will be fine. But never poke around for a sleeping wrasse. ever.

Your sand bed should be able to consume one dead wrasse without issue if the tank has been established and fully cycled if he did die.

 

[ciodavid]

It's been 6 days and I still haven't seen my yellow corris. What about your wrasse? Have you seen him lately?

 

[frankyrivera]

Did your wrasse make it I just bought one myself it did the same thing but 3 days later and whadaya know. Guess who's swimming around