kkiel02
Sat, 3rd Jul 2010, 03:35 PM
I would like to help start an "Expert" fish thread for a couple different harder to keep reef fish. I have been fairly successful with these and would like to share my experience.
The hardest part about keeping the leopard wrasse is successfully getting a healthy specimen to accept frozen foods. I have bought Macropharyngodon meleagris and Macropharyngodon bipartitus. The bipartitus was already weened onto frozen so that made it very easy on my behalf. The Meleagris was not really weened when I purchased him but I believe after watching the bipartitus he quickly caught on. One thing to remember is that when they are first introduced into the tank it is normal for them to dive into the sand and stay there for a couple days. Mine both dove for about 3-4 hours before coming back out. Being wrasses they are also known to jump so a covered tank is a must. Most people I have talked to recommend putting them straight into the display tank(which is very risky if they are carrying diseases or parasites). They are terrible shippers and this is part of the reason I would like to share my experience to help someone buying one to offer the best possible home for the successfully shipped fish. They are also known to have internal parasites so pazipro is often used if you will be qting them. I did end up losing both mine with my awful battle to marine velvet.
PS- If they dive in the sand dont try to uncover them.
I do plan on keeping a pair in my new tank as when supermale is achieved I think they are my favorite pair of reef safe fish.
If anyone would like to start a thread on other harder to keep species that would be appreciated and fill free to post your experiences with Leopard wrasses here. I know some people have kept the achilles tang hint hint.
Edit- Also it is very helpful to keep live food(live shrimp-brine or mysis) on hand to help make the trasition to frozen easier. I know they love amphipods as they scoured my tank much like a mandarin would.
The hardest part about keeping the leopard wrasse is successfully getting a healthy specimen to accept frozen foods. I have bought Macropharyngodon meleagris and Macropharyngodon bipartitus. The bipartitus was already weened onto frozen so that made it very easy on my behalf. The Meleagris was not really weened when I purchased him but I believe after watching the bipartitus he quickly caught on. One thing to remember is that when they are first introduced into the tank it is normal for them to dive into the sand and stay there for a couple days. Mine both dove for about 3-4 hours before coming back out. Being wrasses they are also known to jump so a covered tank is a must. Most people I have talked to recommend putting them straight into the display tank(which is very risky if they are carrying diseases or parasites). They are terrible shippers and this is part of the reason I would like to share my experience to help someone buying one to offer the best possible home for the successfully shipped fish. They are also known to have internal parasites so pazipro is often used if you will be qting them. I did end up losing both mine with my awful battle to marine velvet.
PS- If they dive in the sand dont try to uncover them.
I do plan on keeping a pair in my new tank as when supermale is achieved I think they are my favorite pair of reef safe fish.
If anyone would like to start a thread on other harder to keep species that would be appreciated and fill free to post your experiences with Leopard wrasses here. I know some people have kept the achilles tang hint hint.
Edit- Also it is very helpful to keep live food(live shrimp-brine or mysis) on hand to help make the trasition to frozen easier. I know they love amphipods as they scoured my tank much like a mandarin would.