Should I buy a Black Leopard Wrasse?

[mcoomer]

I recently saw a Leopard in a tank and thought it was a very striking fish. I've been reading through the thread about keeping these fish and I want to know what you folks think of my chances of success. It sounds like some folks drop them in and have no trouble keeping them while other have good tanks but no success with them. Kind of makes me nervous about buying one.

My tank is a 180 (72 X 24 X 24) that has been up for a month now. I transferred from a 125 that had been running for 12 years and with the exception of some additional LR that I added everything that's in the 180 now came from the 125. I don't know how many pounds of rock are in there but I've got two mountains on either side with lots of arches and holes and a valley in the center of the tank. Lots of hiding holes in there. Previous tank was BB but I've added 60lbs of Carib Sea sand (30lbs Argamax sugar fine, 30lbs Select). The front of the tank has only a dusting of sand due to water flow pushing it around but it drifts against the rock to a depth of 3-4" in several spots.

Circulation in the tank is accomplished with a Reeflo Barracuda and two EcoTech MP40W's set to lagoon mode. As soon as the wife get's over the sticker shock of setting up the tank I plan on adding at least one more and probably two (or a 60!). Sump is 45 X 20 and is normally filled to 16" for 60 gallons of water so system is approximately 240G total. On my last tank I was changing 10 gallons a day but haven't settled into a routine on this tank yet. Suspect it will be the same but we'll see what the tank tells me I need to do. Just checked on Sunday: Ca 440, Alk 9.5, Mg >1400, pH 8.0. I only dose BRS Ca and Alk twice a day using my RKE and Drew's Dosers. Center section of the sump is going to grow chaeto with 100W bulb. Lighting is currently 2X 250W 20K bulbs and 2X 5' actinic VHO's but I'm picking up a dual 250HQI Blue Wave 7 on Saturday so I'll have 1000W in there soon.

Tank is being setup as a mixed SPS reef. I currently have maybe 15 frags of various SPS corals with a scoly, monti, 2 lobos, Cyphastrea, and various polyps that have stowed away into the tank over the years. I only have 6 fish in the tank right now. I have a Red Sea Desjardini Sailfin, a Yellow Tang, Foxface, two Domino Damsels, and a Yellowtail Blue Damsel. All these fish have been in my tank for years now. Beside the wrasse I'm thinking that I might add an Achilles or Powder Blue Tang at some point in the future. No other fishes planned for the tank. Food is nori several times a day, Formulas 1 and 2, Cyclopeeze, Roti Feast, Oyster Feast, frozen mysis, and an occasional silverside for the lobos and scoly. Fish are fat and happy and no health problems.

Tell me what you think about my chances of successfully hosting a Leopard Wrasse in this tank. Do I need to do something to make the tank a more hospitable place for this fish? My plan, if I buy it is to acclimate as I would any fish and then straight into the DT along with some live worms or shrimp to try to encourage it to eat right away. Yes I have a QT and would normally put new fish and corals in there but it sounds like these fish are particularly susceptible to stress so I want to get it "home" right away to try to minimize that stress. Obviously, if I see any issues with the fish it's staying at the store. So, give me your opinion and any suggestions you might have.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[skibum9884]

Well, it sounds like you've thought this through a bit. I assume you've read through the leopard wrasse primer that is stickied on this forum? Lots of good info in there.

As for your setup, the 180 is certainly big enough, however the lack of sand concerns me a bit. While you have a build up of 3-4" in a few places, I might like to see you have a bit more sand.

Also, it doesn't seem like you have any pod eaters in your tank currently, and with the live rock being transferred over from a 12 year old system, I would think you'd have a good pod population? I'd check this out with a flashlight at night to make sure you have a lot. I think most people have trouble with leopards because there aren't enough pods to sustain the wrasse.

 

[mcoomer]

When we were moving the rocks during the transfer I saw some pods that were big enough to skewer, grill and eat with lemon and butter. Should be plenty of naturally occurring food in there and hopefully more once I get a big chaeto ball going in the sump. For the substrate, I can add more sand if needed. Can this be something that I do if I see that the fish appears to be having trouble finding a happy spot?

As for the primer, I've been reading through it. Probably take a couple days to read it thoroughly but I'm chopping it down.

Mike

 

[MCCOOL]

definitely finish reading through the primer, but it sounds like you've done enough research, and your setup sounds inviting for a leopard.

I'm not sure what species a "black leopard" wrasse is, but my Macropharyngodon meleagris has been great in my tank for a year now with about an inch of sand. I know a year isn't long term success by any means, but she doesn't seem bothered at all by it.

Just make sure you buy a plump, healthy looking specimen, preferably one that's already eating at the store.

 

[mcoomer]

Their website shows the fish as Macropharyngodon negrosensis but I'll confirm that with them when I get there. According to one of the staff the fish is approx. 4" long and has its adult coloration. I'm going to stop by there this afternoon to see it.

 

[swigen]

When we were moving the rocks during the transfer I saw some pods that were big enough to skewer, grill and eat with lemon and butter. Should be plenty of naturally occurring food in there and hopefully more once I get a big chaeto ball going in the sump. For the substrate, I can add more sand if needed. Can this be something that I do if I see that the fish appears to be having trouble finding a happy spot?

As for the primer, I've been reading through it. Probably take a couple days to read it thoroughly but I'm chopping it down.

Mike

The "pods" you saw are amphipods and I'm not sure they contribute much as food for the wrasse. The "pods" you want are the copepods which like skibum already said will show up on the glass at night as tiny tear drops. Regardless, I'm sure you have plenty of both. Good luck with the leopard! I'm giving them a second try tommorow when I pick up my bipartitus.

 

[mcoomer]

The shop just posted a pic of the fish I want on another forum. The pic looks a bit dark so I'll have to go see it in person after work. Do I see something white on the top part of it's beak?

 

[mcoomer]

Acclimated the fish, put it in the tank and it swam around for about 15 seconds before diving into a big pile of sand behind some of my rock work. I couldn't really see him diving in but he kicked up quite the little sandstorm. I picked up a bottle of Prazipro and put a dose in the tank. 6 days from now I'll do a big water change and put in another dose.

Mike

 

[mcoomer]

Fish has been in the tank since Thursday and I haven't seen it since. It buried itself in the sand and hasn't come out since. At what point do I start to worry? Should I stir up the sand at some point?

Mike

 

[Tylt33]

My record is 14 days without seeing a leopard before it reappeared and was ok.

 

[flfireman1]

I know this sounds rediculous but check for it at night with a flash light and Im talking about 3 or 4 in the morning. I had a biparitus male that I didnt see for 7 days then saw him swimming around the tank one night I happen to get up. He may not be acclimated to our time zone yet. Or he may just be hidding. If you do happen to see him swimming around try feeding something.

 

[snorvich]

All good advice above. Leopards, in general love PE mysis as well as copepods. If the fish was recently acquired by your source, it is likely to be on a different time zone. They will acclimate. Prazipro is essential unless it has already been treated. The lack of sand concerns me a little bit.

 

[small alien]

Don't stir the sand. Good luck.

 

[Korrine]

I had a sand dweller (melanurus wrasse) that didn't come out for 5 days. It made me nervous, but she was ok. They can hide for awhile.

 

[mcoomer]

All good advice above. Leopards, in general love PE mysis as well as copepods. If the fish was recently acquired by your source, it is likely to be on a different time zone. They will acclimate. Prazipro is essential unless it has already been treated. The lack of sand concerns me a little bit.

I've been dropping mysis and brine in the tank but haven't see him yet. My other fish must be wondering what the special occasion is. I treated with Prazipro on the first day and will do so again on Thursday. If necessary I'll add some more sand but there are quite a few deep drifts in the tank, as evidenced by his disappearing act. Not going to poke around in the sand, and frankly I don't think I could reach the spot that he disappeared into anyway.

Mike

 

[mcoomer]

So, the fish went into the tank on 09/24. It's 10/25 so I'm thinking that I won't be seeing it again. First fish death I've had in a long time. Really bummed...

Mike

 

[MechEng99]

Sorry to hear that.

 

[iamwrasseman]

very good advice here for you and dont worry about him going into the sand bed . i like to get them live brine when they first start comming out so they have something natural to eat . then switch him over to pe mysis as soon as you feel confident he is eating the brine well . should be no problem but the leopards are very delicate and IMO it really is ket that they were collected and warehoused correctly . if they were not properly collected then you just have to let nature take its corse . best of luck to you !

 

[Ralph ATL]

very good advice here for you and dont worry about him going into the sand bed . i like to get them live brine when they first start comming out so they have something natural to eat . then switch him over to pe mysis as soon as you feel confident he is eating the brine well . should be no problem but the leopards are very delicate and IMO it really is ket that they were collected and warehoused correctly . if they were not properly collected then you just have to let nature take its corse . best of luck to you !

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