Rhomboidalis wrasse stress??

[griseum]

My rhomboidalis wrasse has gone from out and about all day, everyday, to hiding under a rock.
Its a 3" changing male, in a 50gallon aquarium, with a Reef Sump-75, 2x mp10WES. The only other fish in with him are 3 helfrichi firefish, Cirrhilabrus earlei, and a Multifasciatus angelfish.
They have all been quarantined for 6 weeks, treated for flukes with Prazi while in the display, as well.
The only thing of note was 2 weeks ago, something spooked the wrasse, I assume, because while I was out he must have flown into the glass tops. When i returned he had a huge Knot on his forehead. That has healed completely.

He is occasionally swimming out from under the rock near the shallow sand bed, but only to do a small loop, and right back under.

There is no ammonia, nitrites, and nitrate is under 5ppm. I haven't added any corals yet except a ricordea or two, so I haven't tested other parameters.
pH is 8.3-8.1

 

[evolved]

I would conjecture either the earlei of the angel has started to bully him. One of them probably chased him to result in the damage you saw. And I'm sorry to say, but a wrasse that is bullied into hiding is a slow death sentence.

If you can't figure out who the bully might be within a few days, I would consider trapping the rhomboid.

 

[eatbreakfast]

It sounds like he is still spooked.

Consider the options to evade a predator a Cirrhilabrus wrasse has available. It's 1st choice is to dart to the rocks, if he feels that is not the best option the next option is to dart up. In the case of your fish darting up led to a pretty serious injury.

As far as your rhomboid as concerned he doesnt realize he is safe from predators in an aquarium, so he is considering his options for safety. Since he got hurt pretty bad by hitting the glass top, he is going to stay closer to the rockwork because this is a safer option for retreat.

Now this explanation is a bit simplistic and anthropomorphilizing a little, but the principles still apply.

 

[d-man]

Pull him out or earlei and see if he relaxes. Is he eating?
I'll take the earlei off your hands if need be

 

[griseum]

That makes sense, however, there have been no signs of aggression at all!?
For the duration of the actual injury, he was still very active and out all day. Its odd, IMO, that now upon completely healing, and the lump on its head right posterior to the eyes gone, that hes "taken to the mattresses" so to speak. If it is a case of bullying, I will regrettably move him to another tank.

On a side note, could it have anything to do with metronidazole by Seachem being in some enriched brine i fed a few days ago?
Also, may it have to do with his changing of sexes? He was from a large group brought in together wuth a super male. Since purchase, the changing has been noticeable. With the other wrasse as well...
Thanks guys.

 

[eatbreakfast]

If both he and the earel are transitioning then aggression between the two would be at a peak, observe, but be ready to seperate.

 

[griseum]

So I come home at about 4pm after being out all day, the Rhomboid is out like his old self (almost, a little nervous it appeared). I open the lid to feed some NLS ultraRed, he swims hesitantly and eats a few pellets. I leave the room to go check on my other tanks, and when I come back.... hes back under the low rock shelf at the sand bed ????

Would the use of an acclimation box be of any help? While I was out, i picked up one that is made of all pliable mesh on the in-tank three sides and bottom, and a clear piece of plastic on the side thats against the tank glass.. So as long as he doesnt dart towards the glass top, or the tank glass, he wont get injured?
I dont know how I'd ever catch him, and it would probably only make matters worse, stress-wise.....

Thanks guys.

 

[griseum]

jeez i spoke to soon, hes out again, swimming around... But he's definitely not his normal self...

I have not once seen the slightest interaction, let alone aggression between the two wrasses, in the tank.
The rhomboid at 3" is the biggest fish in the tank! I would say the earlei is bolder even though the rhomboid dwarfs him. Earl's about 2.25"-2.5" roughly.