Wrasse - Sleeping habits - Curiouser and Curiouser.

[windlasher]

So, I have a Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse. I understand that they sleep by secreting a film around them. OK, Cool.

There are not many fish in my tank. 2 Tangs and this Wrasse and a few scooter blennies.

The Tangs of course swim day and night, lights on or off.

The Blennies also swim day and night, lights on or off.

The Wrasse disappears at night lights on or off. and the reappears in the morning when I usually do the first feeding. Even if I turn the lights on in the middle of the night for several hours... no wrasse.

What's with that? DO wrasses require a certain amount of sleep?:hmm3: Why does he go to sleep like he has some weird internal clock? I would understand if it was a lighting thing, but it doesn't seem to be. Whaddaya think?

 

[Cliving1]

Maybe its a defense thing. In my tank my clown sleeps in the anemone, coral beauty cruises, and the wrasse finds a pocket/hole to poke its head out of and watch everything go by

 

[Moort82]

They have a pretty strong body clock so it'll be tucked up in bed. If you change your light schedule by a few hours it'll take time to catch up. In halichoeres or other wrasse that bury, you see quite strong jet lag.

 

[eatbreakfast]

It seems like he has a strong internal clock because he does have one. The circadian rhythm is very strong and intune with their lighting schedule.