Melanarus wrasses has been laying on the sand bed all day, normal behavior?

[nunu]

Picked up a melanarus this past week and after hiding in the sand for a couple days he came up and has been laying in the sand still. Swam around for some frozen food and laid back down after

 

[Subsea]

They sleep buried in substrate, if it is deep enough.

 

[picoflreefer]

Picked up a melanarus this past week and after hiding in the sand for a couple days he came up and has been laying in the sand still. Swam around for some frozen food and laid back down after

If they are laying above the sand that’s not good . Seems stressed

 

[SaltyT]

^ agree, laying on its side on the sand bed isn't normal behavior for a melanurus. Have you noticed any aggression from its tank mates? Is it breathing heavy?

Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Sam816]

Check if she's breathing heavy. Sand burrowing wrasses do this when adjusting to new tank/environment. I have a kuiter's wrasse. It went missing for 2 -3 days after swimming normally for over a week. I looked everywhere n eventually started combing the sand. And there it was. Lying sideways in the sand, staring at me.
It was breathing normally so I politely cover her/him in sand again. Came out a day later. Ate well n everything.
Did similar thing when moved to DT. Went missing for 2 days. Stayed out for 3-4 hrs for first few days after that. Now behaves perfectly fine. These fish flash more than others too. If u see that then don't be too alarmed.
If yours is breathing heavily then it could be ammonia burn. Which means it couldn't breath properly undernthe sand(where they prefer to go when stressed)

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like distress. Do they pop up when food is introduced?
I would focus on the Ammonia-nitrate-salinity-ph and temperature levels.
How is the breathing ?
Are you using RO or tap water from the faucet?

 

[ca1ore]

I have had halichoeres wrasses lay on the sand for a bit during acclimation. A bit odd after a couple of days in the sand. Don’t go hunting for it if it goes back under. Probably not a lot to be done other than ensuring good water quality.

 

[AdamB]

My melanurus has never acted that way .
What’s your parmeters ?