Question on wrasse in acclimation box

Ben jammin · Jan 11, 2015

I have had a red velvet fairy wrasse in my 260 FOWLR for about 8 months as the only fairy wrasse in the tank. I got a gorgeous Fijian Scott's fairy wrasse from Divers Den. Yesterday I added him to my tank, putting him in a large Elite Aquatics acclimation box that I got for this purpose. Last night he spent the night in the pvc pipe I put in the box for cover. This morning when my lights came on he came out, and he is swimming around the box like crazy - he wants out. The red velvet has swam by a few times and paid little attention to him - my Picasso trigger and PBT seem more interested.

I worry about stressing him out by confining him in there - he alternated between frantically trying to escape or pining away like he's in a cell. How long do I leave him in there, and how do I know when it's okay to release him?

Marshall O · Jan 11, 2015

I do a minimum of 24 hours. But always release at night, just before lights out. Don't worry about him being in the box; he'll be fine :)

saltyhog · Jan 11, 2015

Listen to Marshall O. I had a similar experience with a very expensive (for me) Diamond Tail Flasher wrasse that was looking stressed out and was being ignored in the acclimation box. I panicked and let him out and my McCosker's wrasse was pretty hard on him. Had to catch the McCosker's and put him in the acclimation box since I couldn't catch the newbie. Everything worked out but I won't ever let one out in less than 24 hours in the future.

Ben jammin · Jan 11, 2015

Well, I intended to follow your device, but while multitasking between tank and family this evening I left the acclimation box top open and the Scott's escaped. I didn't see him and was afraid he jumped out of the tank, since the top of the box was at waterline, but thankfully I spotted him pressed up against some live rock. Lucky he stayed in the tank. My picasso trigger and powder blue then chased him and he dove deep into the rocks. I turned the lights off for a couple hours and just turned them on to feed. He didn't come out but I don't blame him.

Good news is my red velvet seems oblivious to him, bad news is I am sure he got stressed some by the chase, and it's now been at least two days since he's eaten, maybe more. Hopefully he'll start feeding soon.