Do any of you keep a wrasse in a bare bottom system?

[King_Neptune]

Im setting up a new tank and would really like to put my wrasse in it. But it will be bare bottom tank and he does sleep in the sand every night. Any thoughts or comments? Id really like to hear from folks who do/done it themselves and find out how it pans out.

 

[Krish]

When I get home I'll post a picture for you but when i had my 75 gal, I kept one wrasse in there. He use to sleep in a hole in a rock. I guess he was a happy fish because he ate really well and grew really well. Never had an issue with him in a bare bottom tank.


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[Herefishyfishy]

I have kept Lubbocks Fairy and Possum Wrasses for years in a BB tank.

 

[Faciosity]

I have a six line in the bare bottom side of my tank, and he seems quite happy.

 

[sandswhitson]

I know some people will put a tupperware or other container full of sand in BB tanks for the wrasses to sleep in.

 

[dragoneggs]

Definitely not trying to start an argument here but I feel it is a little like putting a Tang in too small of a tank. You can, but is it good for the fish? My wrasses have always buried themselves in the sand at night and also use for refuge if frightened. I have lots of extremely porous large live rock with many places to hide for all size fish but my wrasses have never taken advantage of it. I have always had sand so it hasn't been forced on them. I also appreciate your desire to have a BB and still have wrasses so you will have to make that call.

 

[Krish]

Really thinking about it, I wonder if wrasses even care about the sand because I mean they are kept in a little confined glass box when they are use to the open ocean and freedom so if anything, I would think that would be the hardest adjustment than anything. Just a thought.


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[dragoneggs]

Really thinking about it, I wonder if wrasses even care about the sand because I mean they are kept in a little confined glass box when they are use to the open ocean and freedom so if anything, I would think that would be the hardest adjustment than anything. Just a thought.


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Now you are opening up another subject... well I guess I did with the Tang comment but I think small tanks especially with only a little live rock and maybe no sand is hard on most all fish. No data just my two cents worth. The way I look at it is I could live in a little smaller house but don't take away my bed... the floor is hard!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Definitely not trying to start an argument here but I feel it is a little like putting a Tang in too small of a tank.

Not all Wrasses sleep in sand...

 

[Krish]

Not all Wrasses sleep in sand...

Mine definately didn't


I got this fellow from a tidepool when he was only a few cm's long. Grew very quickly

 

[dragoneggs]

Not all Wrasses sleep in sand...

Very true! But the OP's wrasse does.

 

[ashton]

Im guessing your talking about some sort of leopard wrasse? From what i read it seems like most people have the best success when keeping them in tanks with sand. There are plenty of other wrasses though that dont require sand. Sixline, mystery, flasher wrasses, fairy wrasses for example are fine in BB tanks.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yes mine is a leopard wrasse and I would never consider BB with them. Not sure what OP has?

 

[trido]

I'm with sandswhitson. I have, and have had friends make a sand "bed" for them. Either with tupperware or acrylic full of sand.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I'm with sandswhitson. I have, and have had friends make a sand "bed" for them. Either with tupperware or acrylic full of sand.

Do you tuck them in at nighty-nite?

 

[trido]

Do you tuck them in at nighty-nite?

Suprsingly the wrasses tucked themselves into their sandbed every night.. One eyed jack (melanarus with on eye) used a sand "bed" in Class Clowns old 240 but also went years in Jans BB tank too. He survived just fine either way except for the crazy circling when he ate.

 

[mcoomer]

Think about it this way. If you check into a hotel do you sleep as well as you do in your own bed? Sure, the wrasse may find another hide out in the rocks but if it's a sand burrower like a Leopard then it will be happiest with sand to bed down in. If you want to go bare bottom that's fine. Just hide a deep bowl full of suitable sand behind the rock work. I've seen videos of folks doing this with great success, including one where I swear the fish was 12" above the container and dove in at full speed. Cool to see. Mine found a crevice in some rocks that's filled with sand and beds down in there every night.

Mike

 

[King_Neptune]

I think I like the tupper-ware idea.
As for the Kind of wrasse....wow this is embarrasing, but I dont remember.
It was something like a chaulera wrasse. Honestly all I remember is it started with "Chau"
I looked online for pics but couldnt find a match. He's got a green base, with blue/purple/red/pink/orange stripes. Mostly blue and red.
But thats not too important. He deffinatly sleeps in the sand, so I know thats what he prefers. And yes, I am on board with those who compare this to Tangs.
I want to try to accommodate him as much as possible of course; but bottom line is: if it wont kill him...hes getting a bare bottom tank. Most likely with a small container in the back with a lid and sand. Ill put a modest hole so he can get in and out, but I want to keep the tank as sand free as possible. If it really sint going to work out...Ill just keep it bare bottom period.

Thanks everyone for the input. Ill put up a build thread for all of you to follow along with. Just waiting on stuff to arrive in the mail so I can start.

 

[King_Neptune]

boy oh boy, was I wrong. its a Melanurus Wrasse.
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