Leopard Wrasse eating sand?

[Zoajohn]

I’ve had a juvi black leopard wrasse for a few weeks now. This past week I noticed some stomach bloat which was odd. No white stringy poop or anything. Then I noticed it was pooping out sand, which is what I’d assume is causing the bloat. The wrasse is eating completely normal and shows no signs of disease or stress otherwise. Any reason why he would be eating sand?

 

[reef lover]

Strange...sifting out pods maybe?
@evolved
@eatbreakfast

 

[AdamB]

My melanurus does the same thing . I find sand all over my acans where he’s going after worms or others

 

[Dragonreef202]

may be looking for bristleworms that's what my wrasse does.

 

[mattzang]

yeah my halichoeres wrasses make sand clouds sometimes too. i had never seen worms or anything of the sort in my tank, but when i moved a rock i had on the sandbed all kinds of scary stuff was under there, the wrasses really appreciated the assist and promptly mowed them down

 

[reef lover]

Yes my wrasses do as well...but they generally dont ingest the sand...

 

[ca1ore]

Leopards will certainly pick at the sand bed for tasty morsels, but none of mine have ever actually ingested sand. They’re not sift feeders like watchman gobies.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Ingesting sand can happen. It doesn't pose any issues.

 

[Zoajohn]

Ingesting sand can happen. It doesn't pose any issues.

Even to the point of causing a sand log out the other end?? He eats algae too but as I understand that’s normal as well.

 

[eatbreakfast]

It could just be build up of accidental sand ingestion from previous times. I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[Signalhead]

My nephew used to eat sand... they call that pica..

 

[evolved]

It could just be build up of accidental sand ingestion from previous times. I wouldn't be concerned.

My thoughts are the same.