Melanarus/hoevan's wrasse help.

[hcbumpin]

I understand these fish bury themselves when threatened or sleeping, but mine has been burried for about 3 days. I just put her in (currently she is the only fish in the tank and is only about 3" long) i undug her from the sand and tried to feed her and she wasnt. Having it, i guess what i want to know is how long i can expect her to stay burried?
thanks

 

[evolved]

DO NOT dig it up. You're only stressing him/her more.

Your fish may stay hidden for up to a week, or even two. Be patient; don't panic.

 

[HV1990]

drop in a few pieces of mysis each day to entice the fish to come out. My wrasse will be swimming around for a month just to go two days in the sand.

 

[hcbumpin]

Ya, i thought digging it Up would stress it out too, i guess sometimes its better to go with my gut and not always the lfs...thanks for the help guys, ill def keep throwing in some shrimp for it.

 

[skidoctor]

Mine was gone for weeks after I switched to a larger tank and incorporated a sump. He'll come out when he's ready, don't try to force it.

 

[Bnortz]

+1 to everything previously stated, let it be! Mine came out the day after I put it in its on QT, was out for three days, then went back to the sand for around 10 days. Then one day it finally came out and has been fine ever since. Just be patient!

 

[SKurj]

I have one of these in QT right now, it will be 4 weeks this weekend and he will be going in the DT. The qt is barebottom and he just lies on the glass. Not sure whats going to happen when he sees sand again.

 

[ridetolive]

I have a leopard wrasse who still likes to bury himself in the sand for a couple days every once in awhile and he's been in the tank for a few months now. Just let him be and he'll come up when he's ready. Also a lot of times it takes awhile for them to get on track with a new schedule so he may be coming up when the lights are out or when your not home.

 

[hcbumpin]

awesome, thanks everyone, its hard being patient sometimes, especially when its your new fish and its all you really want to see haha.

 

[alex gonzales]

I put one in my tank and have never seen him bury himself. He is cruising the tank all day long. Great fish by the way.

 

[flfireman1]

I wouldnt feed the tank just for the sake of him comming out. He will come out when he is ready. Melanurus wrasses for the most part have a voracious appetite. So feeding him should not be a problem. I would hold off on feeding the aquarium until you actually see the wrasse out and about.

 

[mx36]

I had one that stayed hidden for about a month and a half, then one day I came home and he was out swimming around.

 

[Inklinkerman]

Similar story here. I did a big rescape, moved some fish out. The melanaurus was on the list to go, had a buyer and everything. Well he buried himself, didn't see him for a week, assumed I must have accidently squashed him in the rescape.

Then he just turned up again, no worse for wear. So he's still in there by default.

Definetly don't dig him up!!

 

[curlykid]

Mine used to go into the sand for a few days at a time. They are a very pretty and very personable fish, and like the others said, voracious eaters.