Leopard Wrasse Primer

[adam87]

iamwrasseman, my new Ornate Leopard Wrasse just lays on his side all day. But when its 8-11pm he turns into a different fish, he starts swimming up and down, back and fourth, very fast. Also, he does not pick at the rocks/glass. He has been doing this for over a week. Is this normal?

 

[iamwrasseman]

yes it is somewhat normal as he has probably not been adjusted to night and day with his internal clock .its day time where he came from and he may not have figured it all out yet . if you leave the lights out for a day or two then resume normal light cycle that may put him on track faster but he will figure it out over time if not . just give him some time to settle into your time . its kind of like jet lag when you travel out of town but he doesn't have the knowledge of it and just does what comes natural .
good luck and hopefully he will figure it out soon .

 

[adam87]

Also, should a buy live black worms for him to eat.

 

[Tylt33]

Anyone get any of the Choat's Leopards on Diver's Den today? There were three and they sold within five minutes. They had been in captivity for over a month!

 

[aquaph8]

I tried but they were gone fast. Maybe next time.

 

[Tylt33]

I tried but they were gone fast. Maybe next time.

They advertised three in their Sneak Peek, and only two were posted... check back tomorrow!

 

[AfricaOffroad]

My ornatus has started acting real strange in the last 2 weeks or so.

Its suddenly become very shy and nervous. (Been in the tank a few months now, was always active and lively). Seems to have stopped eating and just sulks around the tank.
I've looked at him carefully, no marks, disease (that I can see), injuries of any sort. Doesn't look underfed, colours are still strong. Still swims normally when it wants to. Nothing is chasing or harrasing it. (For the record, my smaller bipartitus is fat and healthy and constantly cruises the tank with the other inmates, its a 1000L system).

It was sitting on top of my squamosa clam this morning, annoying it. I put my hand in the tank and slowly caught it !! Once it realized it was trapped, it tried to get away, but it was too late.

I've dropped it into my 400L quarantine tank, we will see how it does there.
Anyone have any idea what the heck is wrong with this fish???

 

[Western_reefer]

Well, I found the Female Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon meleagris) dead this morning. Totally sucks.... Do you think if I get a net caught leopard wrasse I'll have a better chance?

 

[iamwrasseman]

awww sorry to hear ,net caught is the best IMO .i try to get mac certified fish as often as possible

 

[Western_reefer]

awww sorry to hear ,net caught is the best IMO .i try to get mac certified fish as often as possible

Are there any Leopard Wrasses that come from Vanuatu? If so, what kind of Leopard Wrasses?

 

[adam87]

What is the best food for a Ornate Leopard Wrasse? My leopard is mainly eating Isopods, mysis shrimp, and live black worms.

 

[iamwrasseman]

depending on size i would suggest that you get him on PE mysis asap . its a great food and very nutricous ,clean and whole pieces too . i thaw mine in a net under water and then squeeze out the excess water to remove and po4 then feed it to mine . i have some wrasses under 2" and they can eat it so its east to bite off what they want ,very tender it must be .
Vanuatu western ? im not sure honestly but you could probably google it and find out .

 

[adam87]

Thank you.

 

[96gts]

What is the best food for a Ornate Leopard Wrasse? My leopard is mainly eating Isopods, mysis shrimp, and live black worms.

Both my leopard wrasses first food they accepted were frozen cyclops and after a few days they started eating PE Mysis. They eat anything I put in the tank now, PE Mysis, Rod's food, NLS pellets, and even Nori from the clip.

 

[prodman]

I have had my meleagris for going on two months. I put him in a qt tank as I had just finished a 9 week fallow treatment on my DT and I wanted to at least treat with prazi. The QT is an established 10g with LR and I frequently seed it with pods. After adding the prazi its belly swelled a lot. I though it was a goner for sure I removed the prazi and the swelling stayed for over a week. I had wondered if it was intestal worms or something. At that point it stayed on the sand all the time. I was sure its demise was only a mater of days.

Flash forward a month and its still alive. I know he's alive only because I can sometimes see him sleeping in shallower parts of the sand and can see his gills moving. But I never see it swiming. Do I continue to leave him in the small tank or do I try to get him into the DT?

 

[iamwrasseman]

leave the lights out for two or three days then resume you normal regimine as he may have jet lag . i would then add him to the DT myself .

 

[prodman]

I don't use a light on the qt as its near a window so maybe that is the issue. I added a light today on a timer so well see if that helps. As far as moving him to the Dt goes i should wait until hes not buried correct?

 

[iamwrasseman]

yes he has to come out on his own as you dont want to disturb him while he is under the sand .he is buried for a reason so leave him be for the moment .

 

[AfricaOffroad]

Okay, I'm at a loss with this one.
Which Leopard is this?

Caught him today in the surge zone off the coast where I live.
They are quite common, but only a very limited section of coastline.
20km either way and you do not see them.
The super male must be one of the most stunning wrasse I have ever laid eyes on.
Probably about 5 inches long, but almost impossible to catch (but I'll keep trying)

I can find this fish in my Dr Burgess's Atlas (not a Nebulosis).
Need some expert help with this ID.
Thanks

 

[AfricaOffroad]

My Bipartitus is not impressed with his new cell mate.