New Fairy Wrasse Behavior

[TWallace]

I just got a Scott's Fairy Wrasse yesterday from Live Aquaria (incidentally they're on special for $40 for small, mine was over 3" long which isn't all that small in my view). Anyway, in the bag he looked pretty stressed, gasping at the surface frequently and breathing fast. I acclimated him for about an hour with the tank lights off. The HoB refugium light was on, so there was enough light to see where he was a little, but nothing bright. After I released him, he swam for the rocks, laid down and surrounded himself in the mucus cocoon and went to sleep.

He was still like that this morning (other fish were all awake and swimming around). When I got back from work I couldn't find him. I knew going in that fairy wrasses are jumpers. I have eggcrate on top but there are some gaps where equipment goes into the tank. I suspected the worst and looked all over, but no sign of him on the carpet. I finally found him in a dark spot in the tank, surrounded by the mucus cocoon still, more than 24 hours after acclimation. Is this normal behavior for fairy wrasses after shipment? I"m glad the other fish are at least not bothering him. My Flame Hawk gave my Neon Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) hell for a few hours upon introduction, but I guess he didn't notice the Scott's Fairy Wrasse.

 

[Jerry W]

My lineatus hid for almost two days before venturing out. Shipping is stressful and the fish is most likely getting adjusted. I think you'll see it come out soon. When mine was hiding (i could see it) I would watch the eyes move around. I at least knew it was alive.

 

[luvtolean]

I just put in a pair of Scott's Memorial Day. The female is very gregarious and never hid. The male dove into the rocks and wasn't seen (other than when we'd spy him in the rocks) for a day.

The next day he was out at lights on and good ever since.

I had a golden rhomboid I lost due to jumping thanks to my mystery wrasse chasing it. I had eggcrate but the holes for the Tunze bracket were just big enough for him to squeeze out. Saddest fish loss I've ever had.

Now I have screen door material velcro'd over everything.

 

[Horizon Canopy]

i wouldn't worry about the hiding. my labouti and lineatus both hid for a few days and now are out and about. just make sure that no one is agressively picking on him and he'll come out soon.

 

[TWallace]

Thanks for the advice all. He was still hiding this morning in a dark spot. I shined a flashlight on him and saw his eyes move, so I left him alone. None of the fish are bothering him, I'm not even sure they know he's there.

 

[TWallace]

Well he finally got brave yesterday and came out. He's actually quite bold already, asserting his dominance over the juvenille Neon Wrasse, even though it's almost as big as the Scott's. He also nearly took some squid from my hand today as I was trying to feed my anemone and pearl bubble coral. He's eating every food I've offered so far and the Flame Hawk doesn't seem to mind him either.