Wrasse Buried in Sand?

[dismayed]

I was cleaning my tank last night and was siphoning up a piece of detritus in the sand bed when I sort of shuffled the sand around a bit with the end of the house and to my great surprise, my wrasse popped up out of the sand and darted off at a million miles an hour into some rocks.

At first I was concerned that maybe he was dying, but as I got to thinking about it there is no way a half dead fish would have bolted at the speed that he did.

So I started doing some searching and have read that it might be normal for a wrasse to bury himself in the sand like this. Is this true? I haven't seen him since last night.

It is a really curious behavior. I am wondering what causes it?

 

[khowst]

Depending on the breed alot of them bury into the sand to sleep or when frightened.

 

[snorvich]

Normal behavior. But disturbing one in the sand is a really bad idea.

 

[jason2459]

What kind of wrasse do you have? Like Steve said you do not want to mess around with a wrasse in the sandbed as it will severely stress them out. Some more than others.

 

[jason2459]

What causes a wrasse to bury themselves? Mostly defense, stress, or sleeping.

 

[reefergeorge]

My red corris wrasse buried itself during a tank swap, and got transfered in a five gallon bucket for 50 miles. He is still alive, and well.

 

[RogerJoys]

My Potter's wrasse buries himself in the same place every night at the same time. I can set my clock by it.

About a month ago, he jumped from the tank, and I was able to get him back in and he stayed buried for 4 hours. He then ate, and went to "bed" at the same time, but didn't come out for 1 1/2 days after that.

He also buries himself when I do water changes and stays buried for about an hour after it's all done.

 

[dismayed]

Thanks for all the replies!

He's a moon wrasse. I think that the sleeping explanation is the simplest and makes the most sense... I was doing a water change unusually late at night and accidentally brushed up against him. I did not realize this is how they slept.

I don't normally do water changes so late but have been busy and it was the only time I had. I must have caught the poor guy napping. He's been out zooming around the last two days and looks to be his normal happy self so I think he is fine. I usually do water changes in the middle of the day so hopefully this won't happen again.

Thanks for the replies. Moon wrasses are great fish by the way, really wonderful looking and this one anyway has a great temperament.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

My Potter's wrasse buries himself in the same place every night at the same time. I can set my clock by it.

Funny. My meanurus wrasse is the same. It also likes to dive bomb the sandbed during the day. Looking for pods I suppose.