Blue Star/Vermiculite/Divided Leopard Wrasses

[KKGaskin90]

I ordered 3 female blue star leopard wrasses from LA. I ordered 3 knowing they often don't survive shipping and hoping for 2 to arrive alive. Amazingly, all 3 survived shipping and acclimated beautifully. I put them in a 20L QT with a rock for shelter, deep sand, and adequate filtration. They stayed out in the open Tuesday until lights out. I tried to feed them but they turned down LRS and fish eggs.
Wednesday they all eventually made their way out. The first one out did not eat, but once the other two emerged I fed Hikari Mysis and they ate readily. Again, all three hit the sand bed right after lights out.
Thursday (today) I was slightly concerned. The first woke up about 11 am but wasn't interested in eating. I started panicking looking for live food to entice her appetite... Around 3 the other two appeared. I fed a mixture of Hikari Mysis and Brine shrimp and again all 3 readily ate. I continued feeding little bits often until lights out, and they continued eating. Something about seeing the others eat helps them, it seems.
I'm extremely thrilled with these fish. They are so pretty and have great movement-constantly on the hunt. I plan to deworm them starting Saturday as long as they eat well tomorrow

Acclimating:

Today:

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I love African leopards. They are awesome fish. Some may disagree but I rank them above Potters leopards in the family.

 

[snorvich]

Try PE mysis, fish roe, frozen cyclopeeze. Some fish may be jet lagged so be patient.

 

[jbvdhp]

Nice trio. I have four leopards and my previous attempts never fared well in Qt. I plopped them straight into the display, some here do some don't.

I've found mine eat mysis and Arcti pods readily. And quickly!

 

[albano]

I plopped them straight into the display, some here do some don't.

That's basically my advice too...a few days in QT for observation then straight into DT

 

[ca1ore]

My favorite of the leopards. Getting them to eat is the BIG hurdle.

 

[jbvdhp]

My favorite of the leopards. Getting them to eat is the BIG hurdle.

Simon! How's the tank and warfare on parasites going?

I feel relieved after seeing my leopards literally scarf down everything in sight!!!

 

[KKGaskin90]

Just wanted to update:
All three have adjusted beautifully. They are eating like hogs. I currently feed a blend of mysis and plankton with some Rods food mixed in to entice them to vary up their diets a bit. They are all up by 11 and back asleep by lights out at 830. They have completed their first round of deworming (General Cure) and will go through one more after a 10 day break. The General Cure did not seem to suppress their appetites at all. Great fish! Couldn't be happier.

 

[jbvdhp]

Blue Star/Vermiculite/Divided Leopard Wrasses

That's good to know!!!

On a side note, does anyone have a picture of a transitioning female?
Does my large female look like she's transitioning? I hope not cuz I have a smaller male in there...

 

[albano]

On a side note, does anyone have a picture of a transitioning female?
Does my large female look like she's transitioning?

If she is, you'll know for sure in a few days

 

[jbvdhp]

o

If she is, you'll know for sure in a few days

Would the presence of a smaller male and a larger male ornate keep her from changing or no?

 

[KKGaskin90]

That's good to know!!!

On a side note, does anyone have a picture of a transitioning female?
Does my large female look like she's transitioning? I hope not cuz I have a smaller male in there...

Pretty sure that's transitioning... @evolved would know?

 

[jbvdhp]

Pretty sure that's transitioning... @evolved would know?

Fuuuuuuuuuuu

 

[evolved]

Pretty sure that's transitioning... @evolved would know?

Indeed...

 

[evolved]

o


Would the presence of a smaller male and a larger male ornate keep her from changing or no?

Not necessarily; can even go the other way and make it happen faster...

 

[jbvdhp]

Not necessarily; can even go the other way and make it happen faster...

Great.

She sometimes chases my smaller male around, I'm afraid if she turns then she/he may kill the smaller male.

Is this usually the case?

Sorry to high jack OP

 

[evolved]

She sometimes chases my smaller male around, I'm afraid if she turns then she/he may kill the smaller male.

Is this usually the case?

Almost always, yes; sorry.

Best to trap one now I'm afraid.

 

[jbvdhp]

Almost always, yes; sorry.



Best to trap one now I'm afraid.

Yeah that's what I was afraid of and am preparing to do.

 

[bradleyj]

Transitioning male to male.

All in a matter of weeks.

 

[KKGaskin90]

Very nice! Do you have a female as well?
I'm wondering when one of mine will transition since there are three.