Leopard Wrasse Primer

[mfinn]

I decided to try my hand at Leopard Wrasses again. I got two Meleagris Leopard, both females, one about 6 weeks ago and a second one about 3 weeks ago. Both are doing very well. The first one is about 2.5 inches and the second one just over 3 inches. Both are eating well and is getting fat.

Was there any issues between them when they first saw each other?

 

[Marshall O]

Reading back a bit, I would always recommend keeping a new addition in an acclimation box for a couple of days if there are existing wrasses. Doing this and then releasing just add the lights are going out has left me with basically no issues in adding new wrasses.

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

 

[OrionN]

Was there any issues between them when they first saw each other?

There were none. Now they are never too far apart. The larger one is quite a bit darker. The black spots are larger and the space between the spots are much thinner resulting a much darker fish. I will try to document t the change from female to male by weekly pictures.

 

[OrionN]

Color differences between my two Macropharyngodon meleagris
Larger on his way to become male, I think

Smaller on her way to become female

 

[MuShu]

I decided to try my hand at Leopard Wrasses again. I got two Meleagris Leopard, both females, one about 6 weeks ago and a second one about 3 weeks ago. Both are doing very well. The first one is about 2.5 inches and the second one just over 3 inches. Both are eating well and is getting fat.
In my 320 gal tank, It seem that the wrasses are never more than 12 inches or so from each other, a lot of time with in a few cm. Does this mean that I have a pair, and can expect the larger one change color soon? Are they too small for color change?
Here is a picture of my pair. Sorry I have not clean my glass for weeks.

I just got two of these as well. They were eating mysis at the fish store. One went strait into hiding and the other cruised the tank for a few hours before hiding.

 

[itz frank]

Just got one of these on Wednesday. Female Mel. Currently in QT with 3 Tierra anthias.

I placed a small dish with sand from the display in the tank after the second day which she started sleeping in after the third day.

QT is hospital style. Got her from LFS and was eating their mix at the store. Power head, heater, off, lights, air stone. 1.025 SG.

I'm now on day 6. She eats Frozen mysis, cyclo, and Brine. Just dosed first prazipro yesterday. Behaves beautifully and even ate after prazipro. Now chases food in the power head flow. Eats even though the anthias are the more aggressive eaters.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OrionN]

I end up adding a third M meleagris to my tank. Was at Petco earlier today. They have a healthy on in their coral tank. Been there for about 1 week, eating and fairly fat looking, healthy swimming fish. Only have skin rough up snout. From experiences in the past, these injury is not too serious, at least the minor damage I seen. Previously my wrasse healed without problem. So I bough him for 40 dollars, minus a 5 dollars discount. This wrasse is lighter and bigger than my other two. Coloration are still as juvi or female. I hope one of my three wrasses will change sex soon. I love the colors of an terminal male M. meleagris.

 

[joshky]

Next month is my potters leopard wrasses first birthday, it'll make a year since being purchased.

Ornate is at 7 months now

 

[OrionN]

I was able to get a picture of my Leopard wrasse trio and my Flame angel pair a few minutes ago. My smallest seem to have change from juvenile color to female color. All three are about 3 inches +/- .25. From looking at pictures of Meleagris males, I don't think any of mine start changing yet. I guess they are still too young. I wonder at what size do they start changing?

 

[joshky]

I was able to get a picture of my Leopard wrasse trio and my Flame angel pair a few minutes ago. My smallest seem to have change from juvenile color to female color. All three are about 3 inches +/- .25. From looking at pictures of Meleagris males, I don't think any of mine start changing yet. I guess they are still too young. I wonder at what size do they start changing?

Minh from what I know there's no guarantee any of yours will ever turn male, but there's a good chance, just have to be more patient with Macropharyngodon I suppose. Good looking group of fish, they look super healthy.

 

[OrionN]

My tank is large. All three seem to be hanging around each other most of the time. You don't think one will change?
Do you have a male Leopard, of any species, in your tank?

 

[joshky]

My tank is large. All three seem to be hanging around each other most of the time. You don't think one will change?
Do you have a male Leopard, of any species, in your tank?

I'm not saying one won't change, just that unlike fairy wrasses these don't always turn male. Given time with a harem, it's much more likely for the dominant female to turn. This is just based off of posts that I've read from Evolved and other user's much more versed in wrasses than I am. I just have the two leopards in my tank and I'm not sure if either of them are sub-males or just females, the potters is only 2" long so possibly still just a juvenile.

 

[evolved]

I'm not saying one won't change, just that unlike fairy wrasses these don't always turn male. Given time with a harem, it's much more likely for the dominant female to turn.

Yup.
Most likely you will end up with a male, but there is no guarantee and the timing is largely variable.

I just have the two leopards in my tank and I'm not sure if either of them are sub-males or just females, the potters is only 2" long so possibly still just a juvenile.

Your potters is a male.
And I'd say your ornatus is sub-male, but that's one of the hardest species to judge.

 

[OrionN]

Thanks

 

[tenurepro]

Hi Folks... looking forward to adding 2 or 3 leopard wrasses to my 65 gallon tank, which already has a Canary wrasse. Would you recommend i introduce them to an acclimation box first, or should they go in display right away.

if you used an acclimation box - do you leave them in it for more than one day, and if so, would you add sand and feed them while in the box ?

finally - anybody had any issues with aggression between leopards and canary wrasses ?

thanks for your help!

 

[joshky]

Your potters is a male.
And I'd say your ornatus is sub-male, but that's one of the hardest species to judge.

Thanks Hunter, how do you sex the potters? Just wondering.

 

[evolved]

Thanks Hunter, how do you sex the potters? Just wondering.

The pattern on the face is the easiest way to distinguish them; the other differences can be subtle (pattern on the body and the dorsal fin coloration).

The dots on the female's head connect into lines on a male.

 

[tenurepro]

Too soon to be called a success story but recently got two leopard wrasses and they are eating well. Here are some fun picks at feeding time

The autofeeder has a mix of nls small and medium pellets and some flakes.
A few pellets drop down first and we have a chase

Most pellets however stay at the surface so the bipartitus female 'piano' first starts banging the feeding station to get a few pellets to drop down

Sometimes the shrimp gets in there and releases some pellets

Then she gets in the feeding station to get more pellets, and more pellets drop down to the other fish waiting below

Eventually, both leopards get in there

The ornatus leopard wrasse is gorgeous. Can't tell if it is a female or a male though. Do you spot the change in patterns ; perhaps she is transitioning into male

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tenurepro]

Here is a video of the leopards at the autofeeder
https://youtu.be/ApS2GzbtYZU


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kremis]

I have kept a starry leopard wrasse female (bipartitus) for around 2 years. I got it from my LFS (Aquatic collection) and it went straight into the tank (no quarantine) It is fat and healthy, and eats like a pig. It is one of the fattest fish in my tank. I will post some pics later on