Leopard Wrasse Dead?

[kramleigh]

Hi all.

Got a leopard wrasse earlier (about 4 hours ago) and haven't seen him since letting him into the tank. I've looked everywhere and can't find him. Is it likely that he's dead? Don't really want to re arrange all my rocks to find him either, so was wondering if it would make a huge difference to leave him in the tank. It's a fairly new system. Got two cleaner shrimp, 20 turbos, a reef lobster, a mythrax crab, and a couple of other random crabs for clean up crew. Thanks, K

 

[Grace's Dad]

Don't move anything. You probably won't see it til tomorrow. Wrasse build this cocoon thing that when they sleep helps hide them from predators. Every wrasse I've added did this when I put them in the tank, by the next lights on time the next day they were out.

 

[L and L]

In my 100g, I'm not worred at all if a fish dies and I don't know where it is.

Do you have a sand bed? dsb, ssb? Did you add live sand and how much?

I assume that the tank is 2 months old?

I doubt it is dead... most likely just hiding. If you can see the shrimp and crabs... then it's probably alive also. cause they would be on the fish eating it.

 

[kramleigh]

Thanks guys! Got a ssb, with 5lbs of LS. My lfs said not to bother bout getting dead fish out, was wondering if this does cause a spike though? Interesting about the cocoon thing Grace's Dad, didn't know that - thanks. Anyway all crabs and shrimp are still in sight, finger's crossed eh?! K

 

[Grace's Dad]

I may have made a mistake, the fairy wrasses build the cocoons, it looks like the leopard wrasse burrows in the sand.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/hcs3/index.php

 

[lawnmowerbully]

he is in the sand!

he is in the sand!

Yep I am sure he is in the sand. The burrow especially when they are scared. Also they are nocturnal for the most part, you might only see him after you have turned your lights off or really early right after your lights come on.

 

[kramleigh]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

Just to let you know, he's just come out from behind the rocks. Pecking at the LR at the mo. I've got to say that the leopard wrasse truly is a beautiful species. Very fun to watch. Cheers, K

 

[frederickk]

You should take a pic!!!!

 

[kramleigh]

As requested.

 

[stuccodude]

my fairy hid hid for 2 weeks once, sure was cool to see he wasnt dead