Why is my Melanurus wrasse hiding?

jpbeen · Aug 29, 2020

I have had my Melanurus wrasse for about 2 months. For the first month she was always out swimming and doing great. Now she only comes out for about 6 hours a day. If we put anything like fresh clam in the tank she will bolt into hiding for the remainder of the day. Any advice?

truth954 · Aug 29, 2020

If you have a sand bed? Mine burrows under the sand. Usually during the night.

MERKEY · Aug 29, 2020

Have you added anything new to the tank such as fish or corals that could have bought something in?

jpbeen · Aug 29, 2020

Yes; I have added a bristle tooth Tang and a Copper band butterfly (that is why I add the clams to the tank). Neither of these fish bother the wrasse. It just seems to scare easy when we put something in the tank.

MERKEY · Aug 29, 2020

jpbeen said:
Yes; I have added a bristle tooth Tang and a Copper band butterfly (that is why I add the clams to the tank). Neither of these fish bother the wrasse. It just seems to scare easy when we put something in the tank.

If the fish were not Quarentined they could have brought something in...

Do you notice any odd spots or other odd behavior from other fish?

jpbeen · Aug 29, 2020

truth954 said:
If you have a sand bed? Mine burrows under the sand. Usually during the night.

Mine dives in my GSP (large 8"x6") and hides.

jpbeen · Aug 29, 2020

MERKEY said:
If the fish were not Quarentined they could have brought something in...

Do you notice any odd spots or other odd behavior from other fish?

All fish are very healthy. i have a level 2 Sterlizer and have had no Ich since. Wrasse just scares easy for some reason now and will not come out until the following morning.

evolved · Aug 29, 2020

jpbeen said:
Mine dives in my GSP (large 8"x6") and hides.

Is that to say you do not have sand in the tank? If so, that could be quite the chronic source of stress.

jpbeen · Aug 29, 2020

evolved said:
Is that to say you do not have sand in the tank? If so, that could be quite the chronic source of stress.

I have several inches of Figi Pink sand; the wrasse hides in the GSP. She only started doing this after about 1 month in the tank. When she is out she is not picked on by other fish.