McCosker's Wrasse... Champion hide-n-seek, or dead?

[Calvinorc]

I got a small male McCosker's wrasse for my biocube 29 Tuesday, and he's been fine and active since... Eating ok, interacting with my maroon clown, etc. He'd spent quite a bit of time hiding in a hole in the live rock that I could see from the side, but he'd come out for feedings and to explore the tank. The night before last he was hidden somewhere and didn't come out for food when I fed the clown. (Hikari brine frozen) Haven't seen him since... I'm hoping he discovered the huge amphipod infestation (which is why I got him) and is hunting them down, but you'd think I'd at least catch a glimpse of him during 2 days...

 

Not familiar with wrasses at all... Is this holding up for days normal, or should I go on a fish-hunt and move the rocks around to find him? I'm worried he's going to die n rot and trigger a crash if something is wrong...

 

Anyone got any advice??

 

Thanks!!

[Calvinorc]

Ok. Mystery solved. The hole in the live rock he was hiding in went farther back than I thought. He's wedged inside there, way beyond what I can get to. When I shook the rock to see if he'd move, a flurry of amphipods came out. I don't see him now, so he's now so far inside I can't even get to him with tweezers!

 

Now the question is... Do I pull that piece of live rock out before he starts rotting and spikes the ammonia? Or do I just let the dozens of amphipods and worms take care of him? 29g biocube, so not a huge volume of water to soak up any ammonia..... The LR has 2 Acans on it, but I could pop them off I think.

[Psychosis]

If he's dead, and you have a respectable clean up crew, a few water changes will handle any negative side effects of the fish rotting. You'd be suprisedhow quickly a fish that size can be disposed of naturally.