Time-Shifting a Wrasse

[ca1ore]

Although I am not the most experience wrasse keeper, the ones that I have kept have all (so far, at least) exhibited a common behavior. When first introduced to my tank, they stay in the sand (I can see them by looking at the underneath of the tank) for most of the day , but then emerge around 3 or 4 pm, and are active until after the lights go out. I have read that these fish are particularly susceptible to day/night reversal given their origins, and in my case, eventually they do get 'on schedule', but is there anything one can do to ease this process. I thought I might slowly adjust the day/night cycle in my QT, but this would be a pain and perhaps not all that useful. Opinions?

 

[pinnatus]

Just keep a constant schedule and they will adjust. It may take a long time, however.

 

[Fsarmien]

Lol i didn't know fish could get jet lagg

 

[bonomo53]

When i first got my chaoti wrasse from Australia i kept my lights off for two days strait then let them come on normal schedule and that seemed to work. I think it really matters where your getting the fish from if its at a lfs i would think there on a normal schedule.

 

[xtlosx]

Yup.. When I got my pair of yellow wrasses, they were confused for several days, but started coming out one hour closer to our schedule daily. Eventually, they got on the tanks' schedule and has been that way for a while now. Give them time.

 

[maroun.c]

I light acclimate bad shipper wrasses like leopards in my Introduction tank by shiftingbthe light by one hour every 4-5 days. In a DT being on a reverse time zone might cause the wrass to miss feeding which will stress it more.

 

[orangegoby]

Both my 2 wrasses that sleep in the sand did take them few days to adjust to my timer in the beginning, after that they come out within 10 min when lights turned on.

I think it's not a bad thing for them to hide in the sand during lights on when they r new in the dt. this gives them time to adjust without being harassed by other tank mates.

 

[ca1ore]

Thanks for all the responses. With my Dusky Wrasse I did nothing special and he got on EST in about two weeks, so will do the same for this female Leopard.