Author Topic: Lunar Wrasse Behavior (Read 5586 times)

ohioreef · « **on:** March 29, 2009, 20:56:33 »

I picked up a lunar wrasse from Aquatics Specialist and he is not behaving right, at least I don't think he is.

He is swimming on his side and laying on his side under one of my rocks. I've also seen him swimming vertically with his down. Is this normal behavior for them?

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2009, 21:37:44 »

Doesn't sound right. How's your tank testing out?

Aquatic Specialists · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2009, 22:39:31 »

Ohio reef, As we indicated at the store, the fish showed no physical signs of.parasitic or bacterial infections. He has been in our tank for over a month, and has been quite healthy, other than the strange behavior.he started displaying about 5-6 days ago, as was indicated on the "discounted" tag. It is not uncommon for wrasses to exhibit "strange" behavior the first few days in a new environment. We still believe that his "strange" behavior is due to the small area of confinement he has been in. If he doesn't begin to act more "normal" in a couple of days, bring him back in and we'll gladly refund the discounted purchase price or give you the $29 toward store credit. Thanks again, Duane

MSUJenn · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2009, 23:11:01 »

I hope everything works out ok with your fish. Mine was kind of strange when I first got him. He hid quite a bit, and was very skittish whenever we would go in the basement. Now, he's very active and eats like a pig. I've only had him for a little over a month, so I'm not quite sure what their normal behavior is supposed to be, especially since every fish is different. I've never seen mine lay on his side, but he does wedge himself in the rocks vertically at night when he sleeps. Hopefully yours is just scared and adjusting to his new environment. Good luck.

ohioreef · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2009, 06:58:43 »

Duane,

I am in no way indicating that you sold me a sick fish. I was just looking for other opinions on the behavior of this specific kind of fish as I am not familiar with them.

I realize that fish will act weird when placed in a new environment and that he will take a couple of days to adjust.

micki · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2009, 07:49:59 »

Perhaps he is in shock of knowing who his new owner is!!!

ohioreef · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2009, 09:10:52 »

Quote from: micki on March 30, 2009, 07:49:59

Perhaps he is in shock of knowing who his new owner is!!!

Yeah, he cant believe he got so lucky!!

micki · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2009, 14:57:24 »

Quote from: ohioreef on March 30, 2009, 09:10:52

Yeah, he cant believe he got so lucky!!

Or not...

Joel · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2009, 20:43:45 »

Gary,

Isn't your tank some what of a reef type aquarium or did you get / set up another aquarium?

ohioreef · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2009, 21:03:35 »

Joel,

Yes it is. Should I be concerned?

UDJustin · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2009, 21:12:52 »

lunar wrasses are not reef safe

ohioreef · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2009, 21:20:05 »

Quote from: udjustin on March 30, 2009, 21:12:52

lunar wrasses are not reef safe

Why? Liveaquaria says they do not eat corals.

UDJustin · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2009, 21:22:57 »

Won't bother corals, but this fish feeds on a wide array of invertebrates, (eats great!) including snails, sand-dwelling bivalves, hermit crabs, crabs, chitons, shrimp, isopods, amphipods and sea urchins. Not recommended for the reef aquarium.

lazylivin · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2009, 21:41:28 »

Reef Safe is a relative term that is used pretty loosely.

Joel · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2009, 21:58:42 »

Your corals may be safe but just about everything else regularly kept in reef tanks would not be safe with a lunare wrasse. These guys are brutal when they get some size to them. Assuming it recovers from what ever is going on with it, all your snails, shrimp, crabs, hermits, etc will become dinner. Small and or peaceful fish are at significant risk as well.

I keep these guys with big mean fish in fish only tanks (triggers, puffers, grouper, etc.)

Joel · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2009, 07:08:18 »

Out of curiosity I just looked up Live aquaria's info about the Lunare Wrasse because I could not believe they would suggest that putting a Lunar Wrasse into a reef tank was ok or a good idea. Although it does say that they do not eat corals, it also says they they are not reef compatible.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1379+346&pcatid=346

I'd compare this to a lion fish, a grouper or a porcupine puffer, none of these eat coral either but I wouldn't want one in a reef tank because of all the other things they would kill or eat.

Might be a thought to take it back just to be safe.

Kind of a bummer too, they are neat fish.

Joel

ohioreef · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2009, 07:19:10 »

Well crap! That's what I get for an impulse purchase! Not sure that I can even catch him now.

micki · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2009, 16:14:47 »

I had one in my FO aggressive tank. He was pretty mean!

ohioreef · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2009, 16:20:30 »

Guess I'll watch him and see what happens. Right now my female clown is keeping him in line!

micki · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2009, 16:22:01 »

Didn't you just get a cleaner shrimp?

ohioreef · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2009, 21:08:27 »

Yes, I did. So far he had left it alone.

ohioreef · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2009, 21:10:44 »

Quote from: Joel on March 31, 2009, 07:08:18

Out of curiosity I just looked up Live aquaria's info about the Lunare Wrasse...

I saw that Joel, so I read through the description. It never stated (that I remember) that they ate hermit crabs, etc. The only thing I remember it mentioning is that they might eat mantis shrimp and bristle worms.

Guess, I'd better work on figuring out how I'm going to get him out. Anyone have a fish trap that I can borrow?

Joel · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2009, 21:19:08 »

Recently when I had one of those special buys on hermits, a guy bought 50 blue legs and 50 red legs & a bunch of peppermint shrimp for his fowlr tank, his lunare at just about all of them with in a couple weeks - the guy was pissed.

They often bury themselves at night or when scared, scooping up the sand where they buried themselves sometimes works, they are greedy too, keeping it focused on food at the surface of the water while you sneak a net behind it can work also.

ohioreef · « **Reply #23 on:** March 31, 2009, 21:22:52 »

Thanks Joel. I'll see if I can get him out.

It's a shame, I love to watch him darting in and out of the rock.

ohioreef · « **Reply #24 on:** March 31, 2009, 21:49:22 »

Holy crap!!! I got him out in under 10 minutes with just a net! It helped that my clown kept chasing him to one side of the tank! LOL

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: Lunar Wrasse Behavior (Read 5586 times)

MechanicalEngineer