Yellow Coris Wrasse - how do they breathe under

[raoul]

I've noticed mine sleeps under the sand I guess since I can't find it after lights out. I'm not too alarmed by this since it was hiding in the sand at the LFS too. I'm just curious how they breathe under the sand.

Anyone know?

 

[Mrseptember15]

If its like my blenny (although im pretty sure wrasses arent similar to blennies) they have little holes on there head which they keep over sand.

 

[matter1331]

actually, rays and sharks are the only ones with spiracles (the little holes in the dorsal part of the head so they can breathe while buried). The sand isn't completely smothering, and since the wrasse will stay somewhat near the surface it can still draw water in through its mouth and therefore breathe.

 

[raoul]

Should I be able to see somethin sticking out of the sand? I keep trying to find which part of the sand bed it's under, but it always sneaks out of the sand when I'm not looking It's a very interesting fish and I really like it!

 

[matter1331]

you shouldn't be able to see him when he buries himself (kind of defeats the purpose). How long have you had this fish? Sometimes it takes wrasses a little while to adjust to a new tank.

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9372979#post9372979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by matter1331
actually, rays and sharks are the only ones with spiracles (the little holes in the dorsal part of the head so they can breathe while buried). The sand isn't completely smothering, and since the wrasse will stay somewhat near the surface it can still draw water in through its mouth and therefore breathe.

Actually, sturgeons, paddlefishes, and bichirs all have true spiracles. Fishes such as seahorses possess a similar, but evolutionarily unrelated, structure that is more of a small gill slit/pore. When wrasses 'dive' under the sand, they secrete a thick but porous mucus coat that allows them to continue breathing uninterrupted. Also, as you said, they stay toward the surface in aerobic regions.

 

[matter1331]

Ah, that's right, good point, I forgot about those exceptions. I always miss some mundane detail, lol.

 

[raoul]

I've only had him for a week, I'm not worried about the sand thing, just curious mostly. It's only in the sand at night, I'm sure it's easier to sleep when you're not worried about someone making a midnight snack out of you!

I didn't know if there were some tell tale signs where they're hiding, like disturbed sand, or a little siphon that comes up to act as an air intake.

We play games like where's the blenny (it blends in with the rocks) and find the wrasse in the sand is another one we play.

Thanks for the answers! I'm contstantly amazed by our tanks!

 

[matter1331]

No problem. Glad Amphiprion could clear up my mistakes. Sometimes you'll see a fin, or possibly a snout sticking out of the sand a little, but other than that it's so hard to find them. I worked in an LFS, and when they buried it could get pretty frustrating trying to find them, they're good at what they do!

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9376705#post9376705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by matter1331
No problem. Glad Amphiprion could clear up my mistakes. Sometimes you'll see a fin, or possibly a snout sticking out of the sand a little, but other than that it's so hard to find them. I worked in an LFS, and when they buried it could get pretty frustrating trying to find them, they're good at what they do!

Sorry, I just get nit-picky sometimes. I am a stickler for small (and at time, useless) details, that's all. It really had nothing to do with the point .