Figured I'd update with some pictures, including 3 new additions. Sorry for the quality of the pictures. I really need to clean the glass!!! We got the Purple Firefish, Nemateleotris decora, almost a week ago. It hid for the first couple of days. Towards the end of day 2, I was able to entice it out with some frozen Mysid Shrimp. Since then, it's almost always out and about.
Next we have our pair, yes, male and female, of Vermiculate Leopard Wrasses, Macropharyngodon bipartitus. We got this beautiful pair today. Several species of Wrasses bury themselves in the sand at night, or if stressed or scared. This species is one of them. During shipping, which as we all know, is very stressful, they have no sand. While attempting to bury themselves, it's common for them to rub against the plastic bag so much that they rub sores onto their sides. You can see these sores in the pictures of the male. After an iodine treatment, during acclimation, I released them. The female immediately started swimming around, inspecting her new digs. The male swam straight to the bottom, where he laid on his side for a couple of minutes and then buried himself in sand. One of the common problems with Leopard Wrasses is getting them to eat. Just to try, I fed frozen mysid shrimp, and a good quality frozen food called Rod's food. The female immediately started eating!!! :D
About an hour later, I noticed the male sticking his head out and scoping things out. A few minutes later, out he came!!! That was a relief!!! I was a bit worried about him. So, I fed again, yeah I know, the tank got overfed tonight!! He watched all the fish go into their typical feeding frenzy. I made sure some food made it to his nose. He slurped it right up!!
Anyway, here's the pics!!
Female Vermiculate Leopard Wrasse
Male
The Happy Couple
Next we have our pair, yes, male and female, of Vermiculate Leopard Wrasses, Macropharyngodon bipartitus. We got this beautiful pair today. Several species of Wrasses bury themselves in the sand at night, or if stressed or scared. This species is one of them. During shipping, which as we all know, is very stressful, they have no sand. While attempting to bury themselves, it's common for them to rub against the plastic bag so much that they rub sores onto their sides. You can see these sores in the pictures of the male. After an iodine treatment, during acclimation, I released them. The female immediately started swimming around, inspecting her new digs. The male swam straight to the bottom, where he laid on his side for a couple of minutes and then buried himself in sand. One of the common problems with Leopard Wrasses is getting them to eat. Just to try, I fed frozen mysid shrimp, and a good quality frozen food called Rod's food. The female immediately started eating!!! :D
About an hour later, I noticed the male sticking his head out and scoping things out. A few minutes later, out he came!!! That was a relief!!! I was a bit worried about him. So, I fed again, yeah I know, the tank got overfed tonight!! He watched all the fish go into their typical feeding frenzy. I made sure some food made it to his nose. He slurped it right up!!
Anyway, here's the pics!!
Female Vermiculate Leopard Wrasse
Male
The Happy Couple
