Wrasses in a bare-bottom tank

[Anonymous]

Hey all, I am about to inherit a lovely little bunch of wrasses for my tank.
My tank is a bare-bottom tank, and one of the wrasses,
Halichoeres chrysus, is going to need a little sand to sleep in.

So my plan was to put a little tub of sand tucked into the back of my rockwork, where I couldn't see it, but the fish could find it.

My question is, how little can it be? I have a bunch of small tupperware containers that are about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide and 2 inches deep... will this be enough space. I'd like to use as little sand as possible, but I want to make sure that I am adequately meeting his needs.

Thanks

-Marcus

 

[Anonymous]

Marcus,

I've kept Halichoeres spp. without a sandy bottom before and they do just fine. I would certainly recommend doing your idea though. I think you'd just have to experiment with different size containers.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Matt

I don't have very much room for a sandbox, and I want to make sure that I am able to access it easily to replace the sand periodically. I also want it to be out of sight... that doesn't leave me too many options, but the smaller the box better. Its nice to know its a luxury item, not a requirement.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Matt

I don't have very much room for a sandbox, and I want to make sure that I am able to access it easily to replace the sand periodically. I also want it to be out of sight... that doesn't leave me too many options, but the smaller the box better. Its nice to know its a luxury item, not a requirement.

I hate to give the recommendation that way, but it's pretty true. We have 3 H. chrysus and a H. chloropterus here that have been with us for years in BB tanks. I kept an H. iridis in a BB tank for over a year and a half before moving it.

If I were keeping a super touchy species like H. rubricephalus I'd go full blown sand bed, but they're kind of a different story altogether.