something eats my cleaner wrasse' tail at night

[mhills16]

I watch my tank for hours and there is nothing that is remotely aggressive in my tank whatso ever. But, after lights out in the morning i keep seeing my cleaner wrasses tail is almost to the meat. I have an idea that something is doing it at night due to the way he sleeps, he sleeps on the sand bed wedged under a rock. Do you think something would take advantage of his sleeping habits at night, eating little by little every night until he wakes up and moves? thats my guess, but what would do it? the hermits? would they take some of his tail as opportunistic feeders while he is sleeping? thanks! mike

 

[buzzbombtom]

yes rock crabs are known to eat sleeping fish, though i didnt know that cleaner wrasses slept like fairies and flashers .....

 

[mhills16]

what is a rock crab lol? i mean, what would it be commonly be called other places? well, they will sleep anywhere but usually they make a nest out of saliva for protection!

 

[Chibils]

That's a distinct trait of fairy wrasses, making a mucus cocoon to sleep in. That said, I would also suspect a hitchhiking crab.