Wrasse's Sleeping Behavior

[DracoKat]

I am curious if it's common behavior of Hoeven's Wrasse.. every night about 1 hour before lights out, my wrasse would swim in circles in two areas of the tank, possibly surveying the area for safe sleep. He'd do this for about 15 minutes before burrowing himself in the back corner of the tank where he usually sleeps (45 minutes before lights out). It's clockwork, every night, same time.

my other wrasses do not exhibit this behavior (Yellow coris, red-head solon and leopard wrasse). These guys just take a dive into their sleeping areas minutes before lights out.

 

[Maritimer]

He sounds like some dogs I know . . .

~Bruce

 

[Nick.B]

My Melanurus wrasse does the inspection thing before diving in.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Quite normal. The melanurus is just more cautious than your other sand-burying wrasses.

 

[Treasure Coast]

Yes, my Melanurus does it every night. He I usually the last one out in the morning also. Thats their normal instincts.

 

[DracoKat]

thanks! I wasn't sure if it was common behavior or not. got me slightly worried, more curious!

 

[4FordFamily]

This is entirely normal behavior, melanarus/hoevens are just a bit more choosy where they slumber. Halichoeres nearly all do this to some degree, but melanarus are more fun to watch because they are picky.

 

[jd371]

Yes, my Melanurus does it every night. He I usually the last one out in the morning also. Thats their normal instincts.

Yeah, mine is late sleeper too. I've noticed mine chasing his tail throughout the day not just at bedtime.

 

[evolved]

Every fish has their own schedule (their "internal clock"), and they can all be shifted schedules like you've seen.

 

[rstrann]

My Hawaiian and Indo cleaner wrasses do this every night as well.

 

[saltyhog]

My Potter's and Ear Muff both do that but my biocellatus just swims along and suddenly disappears in a cloud of sand.

 

[Ocelaris]

My melanurus also is lights out about an hour before bed time, seems like a pattern. Though my tiny Leopard wrasse in quarantine beats him to bed even earlier.

 

[BlennyKravitz]

Yup. I was stirring up the sand bed one night and woke the kid up. I jumped a foot in the air I was so surprised!

 

[Jmas4]

My wrasse does exactly the same thing. They have a thing to repetetiveness. My wrasse starts circling the area he wants to sleep at exactly 5:45. Then dives in the sand at exactly, I mean EXACTLY 5:59. 1 min before blue/moon light. I find this wired bed fascinating.

 

[Sir Chris]

Well best place 2 ask his for my frag tank what's the best wrasse 2 use. I had a 6line and loved it till it killed a Darwin but won't b any other fish in the tank I'm planning. Its been running for 4 months and finished its cycling completely. And just added some snails ceriths and such

 

[UKJIG]

Here is a video of mine going to sleep.

 

[A sea K]

While it is pretty neat to watch them dive in at night I strangely find it more entertaining when they emerge in the morning, pretty cool watching them just "pop" out like that.

 

[leahfiish]

Usually my Earmuff goes to sleep early and is not picky about his spot - dives in and I don't see him again till morning. Lately he's been more selective and has stayed up later trying out a few different places.