Questions on keeping multiple leopards

benjc

New member
Thinking of adding a pair or trio of female leopards to my 120; wanted input from those that have successfully kept multiples...is my tank large enough for a trio, and any tips/tricks?
 
Key is to avoid multiple males!

Yup. And add at the same time if possible. Use an acclimation box if adding them at separate times. To make a pair or trio, ideally get all females and let them decide which will turn male. Sometimes you get a M-F or M-F-F combo, but in reality one of the F is starting the transition to M.

Otherwise, how long has the tank been setup? Do you have a nice and big refugium? What are the other tankmates?
 
Thanks for the advice; my main concern was whether a 120 would be too cramped for three of them... leading to aggression between them. Tank has been up for well over a year; however a melanurus wrasse and a mandarin are keeping the pod population in check...I'll need to get leopards that are well aclimated to eating frozen and (hopefully) pellets. The tankmates are fairly mellow; my two biggest concerns are my female clown and a longnose hawkfish. I'll be sure not to release them into the tank when the clowns are tending a clutch of eggs. I may use an acclimation box, but I'm concerned it may stress the leopards out more than if I didn't. Either way, when they get released to the tank, I'll be flipping the lights off for 24-48 hours.
 
A 120 is definitely large enough. You know this, but Leopards will compete for pods with the Mandarin. As you said, your best bet will be to get those that are eating prepared foods. I have used my acclimation box successfully for Leopards, including my M. chaoti. I put a small container of sand in it for them.
 
Thanks for the info on the melagris; originally I was thinking a trio of them...good to know if I go that route that I shouldn't expect one to transition.
 
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