Final Fish...Leopard Wrasse?

[Craig Lambert]

I have been doing some research on Leopard Wrasses, and am interested in adding one as my final fish. I know they can be difficult to keep, but feel that I'm up to the challenge. I'm interested in hearing experiences from owners and any pics would also be great.

Tank specs:

75G w/dsb, 29G sump/w fuge (cheato)
100lbs fiji LR
pH swings from 8.11-8.23 (pinpoint)
Temp 78-79
salinity 1.025
Alk. 10.0 dKH
Calcium 430
Magnesium 1350
A,N,N all undetectable.
Skimmer AquaC EV-180
run carbon 24/7
10% weekly water changes
Tank completed a very short cycle 6 months ago. (rock cured
in a separate tank for 3 months prior to setup).

I pride myself on keeping excellent water quality, and also keep the tank lightly stocked while utilizing a somewhat oversized skimmer for the tank.

Inhabitants:
Royal Gramma
2 true perculas hosting in RBTA
Flame Angel
2 Cleaner Shrimp
4 species of snails, fighting conch, bristle worms, lots of pods

Corals:
Fox
Torch
Pipe Organ
Open Brain
Closed Brain
Bubble
Ricordia

I have not been able to find out through the articles I've read whether or not a Leopard Wrasse will eat my bristle worms. (I'm hopeful that he will not).

Also wondering if anyone has kept a male and female together? And if you have one, is there an advantage to one gender over another. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Bret61081]

Did you read this article? I found it very informative...As soon as I sell my tang and trigger...I am going to get one....Just haven't found a nice healthy one yet....Good luck since most responsible fish stores dont carry the harder species like these!

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/hcs3/index.php

 

[Craig Lambert]

Thanks...I had already read that. It's a very good article. It seems that finding one that is eating is key.

 

[Bret61081]

exactly...Ive seen a few picking at rocks at the LFS but thats about all....they never touched any of the food put in the tanks...Tonight someone came and got the 2 fish out of my tank...so if the one at the LFS is out and about tomorrow I might give it a try! wish me luck!

 

[RichConley]

I've had mine a while(Macropharangydon Meleagris) and he still only eats frozen. I can't get him on flake. Theyre actually not that tough to keep, they just dont do well in situations where they get picked on, and they are tough to initially get eating.


I keep mine with a Halichoeres Iridis, and a pair of fairy wrasses in a 58 (as well as false percs) and he does fine.

 

[gobygoby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7498425#post7498425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Craig Lambert
Thanks...I had already read that. It's a very good article. It seems that finding one that is eating is key.

ahhhh...the leapord wrasse, one of my most favorite fishies! you are correct. if you can find one that its well, they are very hardy fish. I had one for a little voer a year, and he ate just about anything i threw in there, but he loved freeze dried krill and the sweet water pods

 

[COreefer]

Well I have kept many a Leopard wrasse for better or for worse (mostly for worse). I actually wanted to study this fish because I have yet to see one die because it wouldn't eat. Actually every Leopard wrasse I have seen readily eats, mysis, brine, etc. They are not like mandarins or copperbands in regards to feeding difficulty. From time to time they injure their mouths in shipping and cannot eat the formeriferns that are a natural food source.

Everyone I have owned or witnessed as I worked in a LFS had different problems. They would eat well, and seem to do fine, then 4 days later they would die. I couldn't imagine what was happening other than the source for these fish was bad, so I tried another. 4 days later, the same thing....they would die. After witnessing many, many leopard wrasse do this I emailed the author of the above attached articlle, Mr. Schultz. He suggested these fish suffer not only from mouth injury, rather they are overwhelmed by the shipping stress causing lactic acid to build up inside their bodies. Everyone I saw at the LFS or kept died the same way...three days of doing fine, then day 4 sometimes day 5 they would have enough energy to just get their head out of the sand. Once the fish fully got its body out of the sand it laid their breathing very heavy uintil it expired.

What I am saying is this...these fish are extremely difficult. I have had recent sucess with these fish, but only after I took a serious look at my tank inhabitants. No tangs, no fish that may chase the leopard, plenty of swimming space is needed and above all else make sure your LFS QT's the fish for a couple of weeks, enabling you to observe it before buying it. (Once they settle in for a few months, more aggressive fish can be added, but not prior to the Leopard, this goes for even fairy wrasses)

I agree with the fact that once this fish settles in they are very hardy...no doubt about that. The issue is the first couple of weeks after it arrives in the LFS and then the first month in your tank. Based on the inhabitants above, you should be able to find success with these fish as long as you leave the fish at the LFS for a couple of weeks...chances are they will end up ordering you 4 or 5 until they find one that makes it the 2 week period.

Good luck!