Hiding Dottyback

Ningal · 01-28-2012, 12:35 PM

I recently added a purple dottyback to my tank which has 6 green chromis and 1 clownfish and I know dottybacks tend to hide in their caves and this one has been doing that, but I'd always been able to find it until today. I have a pretty large live rock complex in the tank and can't really take them all out or anything so I'm wondering if there's something I can do to tempt it out?

Really, I just want to make sure it's still alive. It's been acting quite healthy, but haven't seen it eat yet.

Reefing Madness · 01-28-2012, 01:17 PM

You'll stress all inhabitants out if you start diggin around. Does he come out when you feed the tank? Tempt him with that. Other than that, I'd say leave em alone. He'll come out when he's ready.

Ningal · 01-28-2012, 01:20 PM

Yeah, I haven't dug through the rocks or anything. And it used to come out when food was offered, but not today. I've tried two small feedings already.

Reefing Madness · 01-28-2012, 02:16 PM

He may have got picked on by someone and decided to hide for a few.

Ningal · 01-28-2012, 02:21 PM

I normally feed many small servings over the course of a day.

But say I don't see it again for a while, how long until I can presume it dead? I mean, I can still get a refund if I can bring back the body to the local fish store (though I don't know how much the bristleworms would have left alive).

Scottyb442 · 01-31-2012, 02:36 PM

I have a Royal grama doing the same thing. I haven't seen him in a couple weeks now. I don't think I have anything in there that could have killed him and I haven't had an ammonia spike from a decaying fish so I am going to assume he is hiding in his cave

Ningal · 01-31-2012, 03:21 PM

Actually, it turned it was, in fact, dead. Found the head and nothing else like the morning after my last post. First fish I've lost in AGES (I always use drip acclimation).

Reefing Madness · 01-31-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ningal

Actually, it turned it was, in fact, dead. Found the head and nothing else like the morning after my last post. First fish I've lost in AGES (I always use drip acclimation).

Sorry to hear that. Drip acclimate just gives the fish a better time to get used to your water. I have never done it, and have lost some. But is it form not drip acclimating? Know one will ever be able to tell. Just never know when its going to happen. Some acclimate, some don't.

01-28-2012, 12:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ningal Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hiding Dottyback I recently added a purple dottyback to my tank which has 6 green chromis and 1 clownfish and I know dottybacks tend to hide in their caves and this one has been doing that, but I'd always been able to find it until today. I have a pretty large live rock complex in the tank and can't really take them all out or anything so I'm wondering if there's something I can do to tempt it out? Really, I just want to make sure it's still alive. It's been acting quite healthy, but haven't seen it eat yet.

01-28-2012, 01:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Reefing Madness 240g Mixed Reef Reefing Madness's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,663 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1,392 Times Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 946 Times in 923 Posts	Re: Hiding Dottyback You'll stress all inhabitants out if you start diggin around. Does he come out when you feed the tank? Tempt him with that. Other than that, I'd say leave em alone. He'll come out when he's ready. __________________ http://s1050.photobucket.com/albums/...eefingMadness/

01-28-2012, 01:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ningal Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Hiding Dottyback Yeah, I haven't dug through the rocks or anything. And it used to come out when food was offered, but not today. I've tried two small feedings already.

01-28-2012, 02:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
Reefing Madness 240g Mixed Reef Reefing Madness's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,663 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1,392 Times Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 946 Times in 923 Posts	Re: Hiding Dottyback He may have got picked on by someone and decided to hide for a few. __________________ http://s1050.photobucket.com/albums/...eefingMadness/

01-28-2012, 02:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ningal Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Hiding Dottyback I normally feed many small servings over the course of a day. But say I don't see it again for a while, how long until I can presume it dead? I mean, I can still get a refund if I can bring back the body to the local fish store (though I don't know how much the bristleworms would have left alive).

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01-31-2012, 02:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scottyb442 Scottyb442's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 62 Name: Scott Location: Indianapolis IN My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 16 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Hiding Dottyback I have a Royal grama doing the same thing. I haven't seen him in a couple weeks now. I don't think I have anything in there that could have killed him and I haven't had an ammonia spike from a decaying fish so I am going to assume he is hiding in his cave

01-31-2012, 03:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ningal Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 45 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Hiding Dottyback Actually, it turned it was, in fact, dead. Found the head and nothing else like the morning after my last post. First fish I've lost in AGES (I always use drip acclimation).

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