Wrasse disappeared?

[LovesDogsCatsOk]

I added a ruby headed fairy wrasse to my tank a couple weeks ago, it seemed to be doing great until this past Friday. I added a few new corals and a bit later the wrasse had disappeared. She had a habit of disappearing at night so I didn't think much of it at first, but I haven't seen her since! Its been 4 days now! I have a biocube 32 with a lid so I know she didn't jump out, and she's not in the back chambers either. The ammonia level in the tank is still at zero, it would have spiked if she died, right? Is it possible she's still hiding under a rock somewhere?

 

[eatbreakfast]

They ammonia may not necessarily spike.

In a tank that size you would have seen it by now.

 

[LovesDogsCatsOk]

Should I be taking out all of my live rock to search for the body or just let it go since levels are okay?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Let it go. Biological processes in the tank have already taken care of it.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

There is a chance that her internal clock has gotten out of wack and she's coming out at night instead of during the day. When I added a leopard wrasse to my tank in the first three weeks I would not see her for 3-4 days in a row. Then she might appear for an hour only to disappear again. Her internal clock at this time has her up at 4:30 am and she is asleep by 10:00 am. The only reason I see her at all at this point is because I work at home.

 

[eatbreakfast]

There is a chance that her internal clock has gotten out of wack and she's coming out at night instead of during the day. When I added a leopard wrasse to my tank in the first three weeks I would not see her for 3-4 days in a row. Then she might appear for an hour only to disappear again. Her internal clock at this time has her up at 4:30 am and she is asleep by 10:00 am. The only reason I see her at all at this point is because I work at home.

Rubyhead wrasses are a fairy wrasse and they don't bury in the sand like leopards do, so are not nearly as likely to have the issues with their circadian rhythm as sand burying species.

 

[scooter31707]

They are good hiders. Sometimes I couldn't find mines in a QT with PVC. For it to go into hiding, something has it stressed. What are the tankmates in with it? It also may be trying to get use the light schedule.

 

[eatbreakfast]

In a 32g tank, even if it's a good hider, should be visible at some point.

 

[scooter31707]

Mines was in a 20 gal QT. I had to move stuff to see him. If you don't move anything, there's a great chance you want see him in a 32g tank.