Melanarus wrasse causing sand storm

[bucfan]

I have a large melanarus wrasse who every few days chases his shadow in the tank glass and then causes a major stir in the sand by the glass. As a result sand gets all over the tank and the bottom corals. He usually does this for 1-2 days then stops then resumes a few days later. I guess he's fighting his shadow but what is the solution?


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[pyithar]

mine does it a couple of times a day everyday. it's just looking for worms hiding beneath the sand.

 

[snorvich]

mine does it a couple of times a day everyday. it's just looking for worms hiding beneath the sand.

This.

 

[brett559]

Mine did too. Drove me crazy. Never stopped.

 

[EthanHawaii]

I have a LOT of warms in my sand bed and my Hoeven's wrasse never bothers them! In fact she never bothers any of my invertebrates other than my amphipods (which i'm completely fine with).

Ethan

 

[Maxxingout]

Mine does the same, I have to clean sand off rocks, and my torch constantly. Makes me madder then a mosquito stuck in a room full of manikins.

 

[bucfan]

He did it again for a day then stopped. Don't think it's worms he's after. He stares into the glass then slams around his tail fin. If he was not gorgeous and my best flatworm eater I'd get him out.


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[evolved]

Sounds more like a territorial display towards his reflection. If it's in a consistent location in the tank, you might try a white piece of paper on the outside of the tank to cut the reflection for a while.

 

[mav3rick478]

My Chrysus used to do something similar but it was more of a biting the glass, it stopped when I added a Melanarus into the tank. Now they hunt the rock work together for the most part.

Now only an acan frag is the victim of sand because it is by where the Melanarus buries herself at night.

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[bucfan]

My Chrysus used to do something similar but it was more of a biting the glass, it stopped when I added a Melanarus into the tank. Now they hunt the rock work together for the most part.

Now only an acan frag is the victim of sand because it is by where the Melanarus buries herself at night.

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Mine is prob a super male. Can I add another?

 

[mav3rick478]

Mine is prob a super male. Can I add another?

How big is your tank and how long have you had him? It's easier to add more when they are smaller and young. A fellow reefer in my area has a big male in a 110 and it will not allow any fish that look similar to himself.

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[bucfan]

How big is your tank and how long have you had him? It's easier to add more when they are smaller and young. A fellow reefer in my area has a big male in a 110 and it will not allow any fish that look similar to himself.

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He's been in there a year and is about 4 inches if not more. Tank is 205g.