So I've been reading through some of this thread, as I'm very interested in picking up a couple of leopard wrasses. After 148 pages though, I'm a bit lost on everything, so if y'all don't mind me asking a few questions:
1. Future stock list - 2 clowns, royal gramma, mandarin (after 1 year), firefish, yellow tang, tomini tang (tangs going in last). Maybe a foxface one day and a goby. Any issues for stocking these along with the leopard wrasses?
2. Looks like multiple wrasses are fine esp if added together. Should these be a 6 month to a year purchase (like a mandarin) to ensure established micro fauna?
3. I have a 150 gallon DT with a Ruby 36 Sump (~35 gal) which includes a refugium. Would two to three wrasses be too much based on stock list above?
4. I was planning about a 2" sand bed, but would a 3" bed be sufficient without going too deep on sand? I'm not sure what the minimum recommendation is here and what is optimal.
5. Quarantine - I imagine this is the most opinionated question based on what I've seen as some of you don't QT this fish due to their hardiness (similar to a mandarin if I understand on that front). Would it be advisable though to have a QT (20 gallon long), cycled with sand bed, either on the bottom or via a container of sand in order to QT these to acclimate over time and establish feeding? I'm guessing TTM isn't worth it due to stress on the fish, lack of sand, and they don't seem to be prone to ich, but internal parasites if anything. I have concerns more so with received SG from a LFS or online store if I'm running at 1.025 or 1.026. My local LFS was at 1.016 the other day. Does anyone have a thread or pics where they used a QT with sand?
Thanks everyone!
1. Future stock list - 2 clowns, royal gramma, mandarin (after 1 year), firefish, yellow tang, tomini tang (tangs going in last). Maybe a foxface one day and a goby. Any issues for stocking these along with the leopard wrasses?
Answer: In your size tank that stock list sounds ok....I had one blood orange clown that was really agressive to my leopards...so I traded him in at the LFS....so I have no clowns...and no plans to get any....all though my husband likes clowns...but since it is my tank and I take care of it...I won...he he....
2. Looks like multiple wrasses are fine esp if added together. Should these be a 6 month to a year purchase (like a mandarin) to ensure established micro fauna?
Answer: Yes...I have 4 of them...blue star...Moyers...Ornate...and a Melegris...my tank was 2 years old before I got a Leopard. A year or even be 6 months should be good.
3. I have a 150 gallon DT with a Ruby 36 Sump (~35 gal) which includes a refugium. Would two to three wrasses be too much based on stock list above?
Answer: No...you should be ok...
4. I was planning about a 2" sand bed, but would a 3" bed be sufficient without going too deep on sand? I'm not sure what the minimum recommendation is here and what is optimal.
Answer: 2-3 inch sand bed will be fine...I would not go less than 2 inches...
5. Quarantine - I imagine this is the most opinionated question based on what I've seen as some of you don't QT this fish due to their hardiness (similar to a mandarin if I understand on that front). Would it be advisable though to have a QT (20 gallon long), cycled with sand bed, either on the bottom or via a container of sand in order to QT these to acclimate over time and establish feeding? I'm guessing TTM isn't worth it due to stress on the fish, lack of sand, and they don't seem to be prone to ich, but internal parasites if anything. I have concerns more so with received SG from a LFS or online store if I'm running at 1.025 or 1.026. My local LFS was at 1.016 the other day. Does anyone have a thread or pics where they used a QT with sand?
Answer: I have never QT my leopards....but I bought all of mine from 2 different LFS....all of their leopards are put into their coral tanks at 1.025 salinity....so that matches my tank...I leave them at the LFS for a minimum of a week usually two weeks to make sure they are eating frozen Mysis...then I take them home. I do a 40 min drip...and into the tank...keep in mind leopards are not an easy fish....it is important to make sure the Leopard looks healthy...no damage to the mouth or body...and that it is eatting at the store. Also.... leopards don't handle stress....so they do best in a peaceful tank...with other peaceful fish. This is just my experience and what works for me. If you have any more questions let me know.
About the QT.... maybe others that have QT their Leopards will chime in. Hope this helps! By the way Leopards be are one of the best fish out there. You will enjoy them in your tank! [emoji16]
Here is some pics of mine....
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