Differences between leopard wrasse and ornate leopard wrasse?

[Hal3134]

I’m having a difficult time seeing the physical differences. I have no idea on behavioral differences, if any. And for a reason that is non-intuitive to me, the regular leopard wrasse seems To be more expensive than the ornate.

 

[blaxsun]

"Ornate". As far as I can tell (and having owned a leopard wrasse), they're identical. I think one is the full name vs. the common name they're associated with.

 

[JaimeAdams]

All Ornate Leopard Wrasses are Leopard Wrasses, but not all Leopard Wrasses are Ornate Leopard Wrasses. Macropharyngodon ornatus is a species of Leopard Wrasse. There are other species in the genus Macropharyngodon.

 

[Hal3134]

is there any reason to recommend one over the other?

 

[JaimeAdams]

is there any reason to recommend one over the other?

Not that I am aware of as far as care requirements go. I think that Macropharyngodon bipartitus is the prettier of the two common cheaper ones. There are 12 species in the genus. They are all considered expert only based on their dietary needs.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Not that I am aware of as far as care requirements go. I think that Macropharyngodon bipartitus is the prettier of the two common cheaper ones. There are 12 species in the genus. They are all considered expert only based on their dietary needs.

Honestly for most of them (from experience with moyeri, meleagris, bipartitus, and meleagris), diet is not the main issue.

The main issue is trauma to the mouth while shipping, as they are burrowing fish and freak out in their empty plastic bags and hurt themselves.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Honestly for most of them (from experience with moyeri, meleagris, bipartitus, and meleagris), diet is not the main issue.

The main issue is trauma to the mouth while shipping, as they are burrowing fish and freak out in their empty plastic bags and hurt themselves.

Shipping trauma can certainly be an issue. When I import them out of Africa they are shipped with sand in the bag.