Blueheaded Fairy Wrasse

bonesnapper

bonesnapper

Member
I just picked one up from my LFS today. I acclimated him and he was swimming around in the bag as it was floating. Then I released him into the water. He went strait to the bottom and has just been sitting there. His gills and fins are moving so he isn't dead. Is this normal for a Wrasse? Thanks.
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
proper acclimation is not just floating the bag in the water - that is merely temperatur acclimation - the conditions of the water are probably quite a bit different than they were in the LFS and the salinity at the LFS was probably several points lower also. You need to drip acclimate for the best results. If your water parameters are in check and assuming the LFS's were decent also - he will probably be ok
 
bonesnapper

bonesnapper

Member
Here is exactly what I did. I floated the bag for 30 min, then opened the bag for oxygen exchange, then every 15 min I added a half cup of tank water. The process took 1 hour 30 min.
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
I picked one up a couple of weeks ago and he did the same thing. I acclimated him and put him in my QT. He went into a piece of PVC pipe and would not come out (even though he swam in the bag). The first day he would not come out to eat. By the end of the first week he would come out to eat and hang around a little but would not stay out. Unfortunately at that point he showed signs of Ich and died.
So long story short, they are shy and will do that. Note that they are jumpers so be sure you have your tank covered.
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
Probably OK. Stressed but OK (they don't ship well). You might consider turning the tank lights off for the evening and letting him chill.
Have you fed him yet?
Did you see him eat at the LFS?
What else is in the tank?
 
bonesnapper

bonesnapper

Member
Originally Posted by jpc763
Probably OK. Stressed but OK (they don't ship well). You might consider turning the tank lights off for the evening and letting him chill.
Have you fed him yet?
Did you see him eat at the LFS?
What else is in the tank?
I tried to feed him, but he didn't eat. They just fed them before I bought it. I have a Coral Beauty and an Algae Blenny. Also the lights are off.
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
OK, did you see it eat at the LFS? How long did they have it? Were the other fish in there before or did you add them today also?
 
bonesnapper

bonesnapper

Member
No, I didn't see it eat, I trust the LFS manager, he is my friend. I don't know how long not that long, because I was in there a week ago, and they didn't have any of these guys, or at least I didn't see them. I am guessing there were other fish in it befroe, because I got it out of the Wrasse section, and they always have a crap load of Wrasses.
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
My guess is stress. I drip acclimated mine for 2 hours and it still had a difficult first day (actually week). My LFS had gotten it in the day before so it traveled from the Ocean to my LFS via next day air, got acclimated and put into a tank and the next day I picked it up and did the same. After a day it came out to eat. Keep an eye on it and try to feed it in a day or two.
Do you have a QT by chance?
 
bonesnapper

bonesnapper

Member
I will. When I fed the fish earlier, he didn't eat. I also know that most fish don't eat for the first few days in a new tank.
 
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