Leopard Wrasse Success Stories...

[KillerReef]

I want to hear everybody's success stories with this interesting fish. How did you entice yours to eat? How long have you had yours? Anything positive or negative about them is greatly appreciated.

TIA,
Dave

[ficklefins]

I got a leopard wrasse some time ago before my move. I had him for some time and at first he was only eating pods, small critters and would pick at my snails! In the tank I had a pair of clowns, yellow tang and an algae blenny with the wrasse.

The wrasse quickly learned to eat everything the other fish were eating. From Formula 1&2, all types of shrimp feeders (brine...), to even nori! In fact everything in my tank learned how to eat nori from the Yellow tang. I ended up selling him before I moved and the move went well and the wrasse fit in perfectly in his new home. The new owner said that he still eats everything and like always hides in the sand at night.

Anything you want to know about them?
I had this variation...

[DMK]

cool fish. i am also interested in getting a pair of these and a six line.

[Avi]

Mine showed interest in food in the fish store before I bought it. I have had it for over a year and it's going through a color change, getting more colorful now...really striking colors. I would think that your tank is sufficiently well-established and from the amount of live rock that you have in your tank, you have a good shot at success.

[DMK]

how do they handle high flow and alot of water movement?

[Avi]

I have just that and it does pretty well with it, though most likely it'd like a little less movement.

[Saltyaddiction]

I have had my leopard wrasse for about 6 mos.When I first introduced him into the display tank he didn't come out from the sand bed for about 2 weeks. Now the only time I see him is at feeding time. Mine eats mysis shrimp and pellet food.

[KillerReef]

thank you for all the replies...

makes me feel more confident about getting this fish.
Yes, my tank is well established, which is why I feel I can handle one. I also have a flatworm problem I hope it will help me eradicate.

Fickle, is that a potter?

[just dave]

One of the biggest hurdles with these fish is that they are pretty poor shippers. They bury in the sand when threatened and at night. It is theorized that in the shipping bags they wear themselves out trying to bury and sometimes injure themselves in the process. It has also been theorized that they suffer from intestinal parasites. In nature they may live with these but in captivity the stress may cause a imbalance which will cause the fish to waste away even though they eat.

Any of this true? Heck if I know,other 'n that they do ship poorly.
Leopards that are shipped with some clean sand in the shipping bag do seem to fair better. By this I mean arrive alive. I've had good luck with feeding the fish foods soaked in garlic while in quarantine. I don't know about all the claims made about garlic but it is a natural dewormer and I use it as such. Do not disturb the fish while it settles in. Resist any urge to dig it up to see if it's alright. It can stay buried for a few days sometimes when first introduced. It may also take some time for its internal clock to adjust to your tanks,so it may be out and about when the lights are off. They will eventually adjust to your lighting schedule but be aware of this as it will need to feed regardless if the lights are on or not. Feed well and frequently. The first line of defense against fish health problems is going to be diet (I assume water quality is not an issue.)

[DMK]

nice fish.

[KillerReef]

Originally posted by just dave
One of the biggest hurdles with these fish is that they are pretty poor shippers. They bury in the sand when threatened and at night. It is theorized that in the shipping bags they wear themselves out trying to bury and sometimes injure themselves in the process. It has also been theorized that they suffer from intestinal parasites. In nature they may live with these but in captivity the stress may cause a imbalance which will cause the fish to waste away even though they eat.

I had read that in my research. I read a great article about what to look for in a healthy fish. They mentioned looking at the mouth first for any damage caused from trying to bury in the bag without sand, which is why I plan to get it locally and have the LFS put sand in the bag in order to minimize this. Thank you for the reply.

DMK, I agree 100%

[Folta]

I'm the one that bought the wrasse from ficklefins. He's still doing great! A very active and beautiful fish. He eats anything I put into the tank - I also have a yellow tang, and the two of them really go after the nori.



Ficklefins and my light cycles were almost opposite of one anothers - I have my lights on from 4 pm to 12 am so that I can watch the tank when I'm home from work. At first, I wouldn't see him at all during my 'daylight' hours, but would see him swimming around when I would leave for work in the mornings. He slowly adjusted - I started seeing him out more and more. Now he's totally adapted to my schedule. One thing to note about these wonderful fish is that they are on a very strict biological clock of when to go into the sand to sleep and when to come out.

[npaden]

I've had several leopard wrasses and IME the smaller ones seem to do better than the larger ones. Not sure if they ship better or adapt to captivity better or what but that is my experience.

Here is an article about leopard wrasses that was in reefkeeping.com a couple years ago: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hcs3/index.php

FWIW, Nathan

[KillerReef]

That's the one I read, great article, thanks for the link...

[KillerReef]

This is the type I gotBlue Star Leopard Wrasse

What a beautiful fish. It was eating at the LFS. I will upload an actual picture of mine tomorrow if it's out of the sand. It buried itself immediately. Came out for a few, then back in.

Thanks again for all the replies...

[CrazyLionfish]

Can't wait to see a picture of yours

[Fuegofish777]

i have one of the "Bluestar" variety. he is my favorite fish. he didnt eat prepared foods at first, but he started taking mysis and from there it was easy. he now eats anything that goes in.

[zemuron114]

i've shipped about 3 dozen potters wrasse's from Hawaii to Newhampshire with UPs overnight. The total bag time with the fish via UPS was 35 hours long.
only 2 were DOA.... And that was because it was cold that night and day in NH (freak new england weather) and i didn't pack a heat pack.

They do ship poorly. The potters wrasse i've been told fair MUCH better then the others, but none the less... my track record is pretty good

pic of potters
http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/sten...asses/deep.htm
(scroll down to find it, aka shortnosed )

they are bautiful fish, and are much hardier then people think. Ive kept a few off and on before i shipped them and they've ALWAYS eaten frozen mysis without hesitating...

[Speckled Grouper]

Had mine for over a year, changed colors just recently. Eats everything in site....gorgeous fish.

[KillerReef]

Mines is eating great, live brine, mysis and blood worms, no problem. "Woke up" about 3 today(lights come on at noon) and is roaming the tank as I write. Beautiful fish.

I do have one concern though, my purple tang and my maroon clown seems to be chasing it a bit into one corner of the tank. Are they just being territorial and laying down the ground rules, or shold I be concerned. I have not seen any actual contact yet.

Also, I am working on pics, I'm just not a very good photographer.

[KillerReef]

Here's some small pics, I'll try to get some bigger and better ones later...

[reefarchitect]

My favorite fish. Actually he will be moving to a new tank soon. It will be a 180 Gal BB tank, but I am building him and the yellow watchman a sand box. I hope he finds it quickly and the stress of the new environment does not affect his health and well-being.

My only real fear is that he will hurt himself trying to bury in the starboard.