About two weeks ago, I purchased a leopard wrasse that was eating and swimming just fine. Unfortunately, I have yet to see him since I first placed him into the tank, and saw him bury himself into the sand. Now I also just recently decided to go bare bottom, however I left sand under my rock formation, and in the back corner, behind my rocks. Before I removed the sand, I did dig around in the areas I could reach to see if I could locate him. I check the tank every few hours since the day one to see if I could either locate him or find any abnormal behavior of my cuc. Should I assume he's a goner? I checked all around the tank, and in my sump, but no signs of him jumping. I also have screen covers on my tank. 80g, with only two clowns.
Leopard Wrasse question
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eatbreakfast
New member
They can stay buried for over three weeks, but can also bury never to resurface.
If removing nearly all of your sand didnt reveal anything it is doubtful it is still in there.
Long term a leopard will not do well without sand.
If removing nearly all of your sand didnt reveal anything it is doubtful it is still in there.
Long term a leopard will not do well without sand.
Marshall O
New member
Question on this, one of my local guys has a M. meleagris in a barebottom tank. It has been in the tank for at least a year I believe. Nothing I would ever do obviously, but curious if anyone had anything solid or anecdotal to back this up with.
eatbreakfast
New member
Without getting too technical on rest versus sleep, and the always vague term stress with fish.
Sand is where Macropharyngodon wrasses rest/seek refuge. They do not produce a mucus cocoon as other wrasses do to mask their scent/ bio signature from predators, and night is when the heavy hitting predators mostly come out in a reef. This is also he time when most healing/ bodily repairs and replenishments take place.
When you take this away you prevent these functions from occurring normally, and while this leopard may not be facing the normal rigors and stressors as a fish in the wild, it does take a toll.
Anecdotally, think of how a schooling fish reacts when kept on its own, its primary protection is gone, and while there are exceptions, will usually find a corner or hiding place and sulk and show stress coloring. A leopard wrasse is a degree more adaptable, but are still hardwired to look for refuge at night. If it wasnt important than leopard wrasses that are housed with sand would stay up later and later and eventually quit seeking the sand. This is not what happens, no matter how long you have a leopard wrasse they always go to the sand, and once acclimated to our light schedule always before it goes completely dark.
Therefore, when one is housed without sand it is kept an extra 8to 12 hrs of being on guard against danger, this long term will affect the longevity of a leopard wrasse. Lifespans in captivity are 5+ yrs. The local one you mention would be the exception if it made it that long in a barebottom tank.
Sand is where Macropharyngodon wrasses rest/seek refuge. They do not produce a mucus cocoon as other wrasses do to mask their scent/ bio signature from predators, and night is when the heavy hitting predators mostly come out in a reef. This is also he time when most healing/ bodily repairs and replenishments take place.
When you take this away you prevent these functions from occurring normally, and while this leopard may not be facing the normal rigors and stressors as a fish in the wild, it does take a toll.
Anecdotally, think of how a schooling fish reacts when kept on its own, its primary protection is gone, and while there are exceptions, will usually find a corner or hiding place and sulk and show stress coloring. A leopard wrasse is a degree more adaptable, but are still hardwired to look for refuge at night. If it wasnt important than leopard wrasses that are housed with sand would stay up later and later and eventually quit seeking the sand. This is not what happens, no matter how long you have a leopard wrasse they always go to the sand, and once acclimated to our light schedule always before it goes completely dark.
Therefore, when one is housed without sand it is kept an extra 8to 12 hrs of being on guard against danger, this long term will affect the longevity of a leopard wrasse. Lifespans in captivity are 5+ yrs. The local one you mention would be the exception if it made it that long in a barebottom tank.
Marshall O
New member
Thanks, that definitely helps. I was trying to argue why Leopards need to be kept in a sandbed, but didn't have anything to back it up with as far as it would reduce their life by X years. But what you are describing makes complete sense. My Leopards happily sleep in my sandbed at night 
triggreef
New member
You very well may have removed him with the sand. I had a melanurus I lost during a tank transfer that way. I was meticulous searching every cup of sand I removed. I guess I somehow mis counted & when I realized there was a wrasse missing in the new tank, I located his remains in the bucket of sand. Totally my fault & it was very sad.
Also, depending how much sand is in the tank still around your rocks, he may still be buried. I would try to keep checking the tank at different times of the day & night, as I believe they generally come out more than people think. It's more of a matter of the aquarist missing the wrasse than the wrasse staying buried for weeks without coming out at all. IMO
Also, depending how much sand is in the tank still around your rocks, he may still be buried. I would try to keep checking the tank at different times of the day & night, as I believe they generally come out more than people think. It's more of a matter of the aquarist missing the wrasse than the wrasse staying buried for weeks without coming out at all. IMO
Leopard Wrasse question
I have two island rock structures with several large caves, large enough to get my hand in, of which have sand underneath. There is enough space with sand for several wrasses. I didn't remove 100% of the sand. If I have to guesstimate, there should be a solid 20-30% of the tank with sand. I don't think he was removed as I was taking the sand out. The tube wasn't wide enough, and I checked the spots before I sucked out the sand. I guess I'll try sneaking by my tank. When should I assume the worst? Thanks for the help.
I have two island rock structures with several large caves, large enough to get my hand in, of which have sand underneath. There is enough space with sand for several wrasses. I didn't remove 100% of the sand. If I have to guesstimate, there should be a solid 20-30% of the tank with sand. I don't think he was removed as I was taking the sand out. The tube wasn't wide enough, and I checked the spots before I sucked out the sand. I guess I'll try sneaking by my tank. When should I assume the worst? Thanks for the help.
Hard to say with any certainty. I have a black leopard that stayed buried for over 5 weeks. I though she was a goner for sure. It is possible she came out briefly and I just didn't see it, so they can take quite a while before feeling comfortable enough to emerge. As has been noted, don't go hunting for it; will only make things worse. If you are able to see up through the bottom of the tank you can often spot them that way.
Triggerfish
Active member
this is an excellent post. nice job.
3 weeks is definitely a long time.. both of mine took 2-3 days. what are the other tank mates? if it came out and was harrassed could be the cause. but..like others have said it can take awhile longer.. good luck......
I have kept lots of leopard wrasses over the years, and while most remain buried for only a few days, I have had some stay in the sand for much longer. Although 3 weeks is within the range of 'normal', clearly the longer a fish stays buried, the poorer the prognosis. Lots of reasons a leopard might stay buried, health, aggression form another fish, etc. I had a female bipartitus out and about in my fuge suddenly go missing for a week. Aggression from a conspecific male turned out to be the reason. The black leopard that I mentioned in an earlier post as having stayed buried for over 5 weeks may have been feeling aggression from an Achilles tang. Once the latter was removed, the leopard has been out regularly.
Triggerfish
Active member
could be. had a pair of snowflakes in a 75 that i had to get out ..just wanted too much of hte tank to themselves.
while ive kept others that are content to just patrol close to their nem...do you have a nem?
while ive kept others that are content to just patrol close to their nem...do you have a nem?
xtlosx
Just Reefin'
Interesting.. Mine must not bury deep enough because I know like clock work where our two yellow wrasses sleep and have made a point to look from below often... I never see them..
Not to go off on a tangent, but sand burying wrasses amaze me. The fact they get their schedules right, dive in the sand at the exact same time every night and emerge in the morning is real neat.
I'm looking at adding a little leopard in our tank and just wondering how our yellow pair will take it.
