Melanurus Wrasse Hiding or Dead?

[jreinhold]

I recently rearranged all of my rock work and while I was doing it I don't know at which point my melanurus wrasse started hiding. After I rearranged the rocks he is the only fish I have not seen and it has been a few hours. Is it possible he buried himself in the sand and I crushed him and killed him?

 

[BrickFishHouse]

Possible, but if you took your time, it's more than likely hiding wondering what the hey hey just happened.

 

[jreinhold]

How long before I know he is definitely dead?

 

[rffanat1c]

Who knows? Mine hides every time I stick my hand in there or do water changes. He also goes to bed early. Mine is very active so I'd say if he's not around by tomorrow night, I'd start worrying

 

[Jreed983]

I once had a melanurus hide for almost a week after redoing my aquascape. I thought for sure I had killed him mistakenly but then just watching my tank one day after work, there he was swimming around. I wouldn't start to worry too much for a couple days.

 

[Scorpius]

My wrasse hid for an entire week. I'd give it awhile. Any change freaks them out and they have to decide on their terms when it's safe again.

 

[jreinhold]

ok ill give it a day or two before I worry too much. This is the first time I ever changed the rocks. Hes been in the tank for over a month. Its just weird he is always out 90% of the time and after this I can't spot him anywhere.

 

[Scorpius]

ok ill give it a day or two before I worry too much. This is the first time I ever changed the rocks. Hes been in the tank for over a month. Its just weird he is always out 90% of the time and after this I can't spot him anywhere.

Give him up to two weeks. Do not go digging in the sand for him as you will terrify and sress him out. Let him come out on his own.

 

[bchap05]

My Melanarus hides for a day or two everytime I've moved or re arranged my tank. He is normally not shy and spends all day begging and hunting for food, but if I move stuff he is hiding for a few days.

 

[Spartanman22]

I had a meleagris hide for over 2 weeks when I did some rearranging in my DT. Just give it time. Eventually he'll get hungry enough to come back out.

 

[reefbroao]

He buried himself. they do it when they're stressed or sleeping. don't root around for him. let him come out on his own.


mine will go in at the same time every night and be up and about when i wake up like clockwork. its like his bedtime routine.

 

[Tautoga]

I rearranged my rock work a week and a half ago so I could incorporate a piece of live rock I bought. My melanurus buried himself some time during the process. After I was all finished we couldn't find him and I had the dreaded thought of maybe I had possibly buried him under a rock.....

So I moved every rock and sifted the sand with my fingers til I found him. He reburied himself but I was careful to make sure I knew where he was and not put a rock on top of him.

He hid for the rest of the day and came back out a couple of hours after the lights came on the next day so I guess he wasn't too freaked out.

 

[jreinhold]

I turned on the lights this morning and he was out swimming around. Thanks a lot for all the replies.

 

[Scorpius]

I turned on the lights this morning and he was out swimming around. Thanks a lot for all the replies.

Good deal. :beer: