okay will make sure not to do it. will it just stress out the fish?
leopard wrasse still hiding!!
- Thread starter m1nh0h
- Start date
okay will make sure not to do it. will it just stress out the fish?
Yes. The sand is their safety net and if you dig it will freak them out.
letoan
New member
I think for them hiding in the sand for a few days is normal, some of my wrasse went hidden for a whole week when I introduced them to their new home.
IMO, the worst thing you could do is dig them up, if you do, they'll just going to dig a new whole and hide again. Who knows what you going to release/disturb when digging up that sand bed.
IMO, the worst thing you could do is dig them up, if you do, they'll just going to dig a new whole and hide again. Who knows what you going to release/disturb when digging up that sand bed.
ReeFantasy
In Memoriam
Did your fish come out yet?
RDtrack
New member
So for those of you that say don't dig in the sand how long do you say not too?
I understanding waiting a week but if the fish was freaked into hiding by a different fish being to aggressive, it won't come out.
With the chance of getting flamed on here I would after a week/ week 1/2 sift my hand through the sand very carefully. The benefit of getting the fish to eat in my mind is more important than freaking it out for a few more seconds.
I've had several leopards and the ones that went under the sand right away and stayed under more than a week normally haven't made it (except the one I had recently, it then died 3 days later).
The ones that never went under the sand or didn't stay buried very long have made it just fine. I've also done the sifting and have scared the fish out of the sand if the fish is healthy it normally stays out and will eat. If it's not going to make it back under the sand it goes.
The best luck I've had with leopards is only purchasing a leopard that has been at my LFS for at least 5 days (my LFS will hold the fish for that long with 1/2 payment) and is actively eating. I then float the fish for at least and hour and release it while the tank is dark (sorry don't use QT with Leopards).
Just my experiences.
I understanding waiting a week but if the fish was freaked into hiding by a different fish being to aggressive, it won't come out.
With the chance of getting flamed on here I would after a week/ week 1/2 sift my hand through the sand very carefully. The benefit of getting the fish to eat in my mind is more important than freaking it out for a few more seconds.
I've had several leopards and the ones that went under the sand right away and stayed under more than a week normally haven't made it (except the one I had recently, it then died 3 days later).
The ones that never went under the sand or didn't stay buried very long have made it just fine. I've also done the sifting and have scared the fish out of the sand if the fish is healthy it normally stays out and will eat. If it's not going to make it back under the sand it goes.
The best luck I've had with leopards is only purchasing a leopard that has been at my LFS for at least 5 days (my LFS will hold the fish for that long with 1/2 payment) and is actively eating. I then float the fish for at least and hour and release it while the tank is dark (sorry don't use QT with Leopards).
Just my experiences.
this^^^^^
dotcommer
Active member
Leopard Wrasse update.
He was in the sand for two days, until I put my Sleeper Gold Head Goby into the aquarium. Since the Goby goes through the tank sifting sand, I thought he might be able to get the wrasse out. Well it worked and the next two mornings I saw my wrasse coming out and actually pecking at some food. Then he went back into hiding for two days and I sadly just found him dead at the bottom of my tank.
I made sure to have all different types of food in the aquarium over the last week. My water parameters have been great and my tank is 10 months old.
I may try another leopard wrasse or Tamarin wrasse in my 300 Gallon that I am building right now, after it is a few months old and very established.
He was in the sand for two days, until I put my Sleeper Gold Head Goby into the aquarium. Since the Goby goes through the tank sifting sand, I thought he might be able to get the wrasse out. Well it worked and the next two mornings I saw my wrasse coming out and actually pecking at some food. Then he went back into hiding for two days and I sadly just found him dead at the bottom of my tank.
I made sure to have all different types of food in the aquarium over the last week. My water parameters have been great and my tank is 10 months old.
I may try another leopard wrasse or Tamarin wrasse in my 300 Gallon that I am building right now, after it is a few months old and very established.
agnes66666
New member
hi. when I purchase mine Leopard Wrasse he went starit in the sand and after 2 hours come out.He was eating strait away with others..but my Orchid Dottyback hate him..she was ok throughout feeding time, but every time he was near bottom of the tank she was attacking him. Pure wrasse was floating near the top, and from time to time was trying to go near the bottom, but every time he did this Orchid Dottyback attacked him! It was sorry to look in the morning when he was getting up- she was waiting for him,ready to attack! I took Orchid Dottyback to the store the next day! Leopard wrasse would not go for long like that, mine Orchid was evil fish! Since then he is doing great- he eats everything, he is the biggest pig in my tank- he like frozen food (brine, missis, worms, fish eggs- with enrichment or not), also pallets and flakes, dry nori, greezer..even he steeling krab paletts ! I took this fish from good store, where he was in quarantine for long time (1 or 2 month). If you are buying Leopard wrasse pls buy from good aquatic where the quarantine the fish. I put mine strait intro maint tank, as he was already in quarantine for long. I think that quarantine is important, make sure that you got deep sand bed to make her feel more secure. Agnes
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MIKE NY
Two Decade club
My experience with Leopards is it doesn't matter how long they stayed buried or not, my records are a Blue Star almost three weeks buried and an Ornate which didn't bury the first day, I still have both, as long as they start eating when they are out...most will take small pieces of PE mysis, the more finicky ones usually take live Artic Pods and NutrMar Ova.
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