Leopard wrasse seasonal?

Aari007 · Apr 16, 2022

I've been trying to find some leopard wrasses at some LFS' near me, but all of them have been out. I know I can order online, but I don't think they handle shipping well. Does anyone know if they get imported seasonally?

blaxsun · Apr 16, 2022

They show up all the time at my LFS, but it would probably depend on the supplier and distributor.

JaimeAdams · Apr 17, 2022

They are not seasonal. They are on my tranship lists every week. Granted the cost of shipping is pretty high these days. Ive also seen them offered at the large LA wholesalers as of today when I was looking.

Lost in the Sauce · Apr 17, 2022

Aari007 said:
I've been trying to find some leopard wrasses at some LFS' near me, but all of them have been out. I know I can order online, but I don't think they handle shipping well. Does anyone know if they get imported seasonally?

Where you are located will dictate. I live around Los Angeles and Never see them.

Midwest and East Coast, they are constant stock at many LFS.

I've been looking for some blue star leopards for so long locally and couldn't find them. I just ordered a trio from Mike at Doctor reef.

Tamberav · Apr 17, 2022

I see them all the time at the LFS. Blue star the most, then regular leopard, ornate, and black the least.

Can you ask them to order them? Or perhaps they have bad luck with them and don’t bother. I know sometime certain LFSs won’t order more fragile stuff.

Lbrdsoxfan · Apr 17, 2022

Lost in the Sauce said:
Where you are located will dictate. I live around Los Angeles and Never see them.

Midwest and East Coast, they are constant stock at many LFS.

I've been looking for some blue star leopards for so long locally and couldn't find them. I just ordered a trio from Mike at Doctor reef.

I see them down at Tongs in HB often, he usually has a few in the wrasse tank, typically female (usually reserved). Otherwise, hit or miss. LAX aquariums has them on occasion too. My local importer gets them, but they are gone as quick as they arrive (I assume to LFS's). Been trying to snag a female myself vis the qt'ed route.

Lost in the Sauce · Apr 17, 2022

Lbrdsoxfan said:
I see them down at Tongs in HB often, he usually has a few in the wrasse tank, typically female (usually reserved). Otherwise, hit or miss. LAX aquariums has them on occasion too. My local importer gets them, but they are gone as quick as they arrive (I assume to LFS's). Been trying to snag a female myself vis the qt'ed route.

I've had 5 LFS buyers with a few Basic leopards. Blue star, black, on their weekly list for the distributor. They never have them.

Lbrdsoxfan · Apr 17, 2022

Lost in the Sauce said:
I've had 5 LFS buyers with a few Basic leopards. Blue star, black, on their weekly list for the distributor. They never have them.

Crazy, I was seeing them tons pre new year... Side note for me, a female blue star is what caused my flukes outbreak

. I still want the fish, lol.

i cant think · Apr 17, 2022

Over here the common ones are basically in all year round but when you get into Moyeri, Kuiteri, Geoffroy (When they were available), Vivienae and Choati you almost never see them and when they do come in they get taken instantly. Negrosensis isn’t too common but when they appear you have to be fast to get them.

homer1475 · Apr 17, 2022

In my neck of the woods and the few LFS's I visit, I see leopards all the time. Usually the most common being the blue star or melagris. Negrosensis or black leopards are around, but scarce. They get bought up pretty quickly. Kuitri, moyers, or chaoti's are order only as they are some of the more finicky ones to keep.

Cell · Apr 17, 2022

Lost in the Sauce said:
Where you are located will dictate. I live around Los Angeles and Never see them.

Midwest and East Coast, they are constant stock at many LFS.

I've been looking for some blue star leopards for so long locally and couldn't find them. I just ordered a trio from Mike at Doctor reef.

I can confirm they are readily available here in MN fish stores.

Jimmyneptune · Apr 17, 2022

I would try to buy local if you have concerns. If you are in NJ, then call around to stores and find one that gets them in regularly and pre order the wrasse. Make sure the wrasse’s mouth is not damaged and is eating and you should be good.

oreolk · Apr 17, 2022

Aari007 said:
I've been trying to find some leopard wrasses at some LFS' near me, but all of them have been out. I know I can order online, but I don't think they handle shipping well. Does anyone know if they get imported seasonally?

tsm aquatics has them as does ocean devotion, prequarantined

Aari007 · Apr 17, 2022

Tamberav said:
I see them all the time at the LFS. Blue star the most, then regular leopard, ornate, and black the least.

Can you ask them to order them? Or perhaps they have bad luck with them and don’t bother. I know sometime certain LFSs won’t order more fragile stuff.

Most near me are very hesitant to order these fish b/c of their poor shipping survival rate. I think one may special order for me.

Jimmyneptune said:
I would try to buy local if you have concerns. If you are in NJ, then call around to stores and find one that gets them in regularly and pre order the wrasse. Make sure the wrasse’s mouth is not damaged and is eating and you should be good.

Yea I wanted to buy local so I can see how the fish looks & if it eats before I buy one.

Aari007 · Apr 17, 2022

Also, does anyone know if I can have multiple of the same species or multiple but of different species? I know you usually can't have 2 males of the same species, but what if I had happened to have 2 males of different species?

vetteguy53081 · Apr 17, 2022

owning a pet store, I believe its more to do with the suppliers your LFS works with. I literally see them year round and had no problem ordering them

Greenstreet.1 · Apr 17, 2022

If you come to LI you can contact reef shark aquarium he usually has leopards and can also order for you.

homer1475 · Apr 17, 2022

All leopards are born female, if kept in multiples, one will turn male.

You can typically keep leopard with leopards without issues.

I currently house a melagris, negrosensis, and moyers. I do have a little issue with the melagris and moyers, but it's a dominance thing more then aggression, it is getting better.

If you check out the wrasse lover stickie at the top, you'll see many of us keep many leopards together.

homer1475 · Apr 17, 2022

Aari007 said:
Most near me are very hesitant to order these fish b/c of their poor shipping survival rate. I think one may special order for me.

Yea I wanted to buy local so I can see how the fish looks & if it eats before I buy one.

You need to contact @Crabby48 he's in jersey too and has some decent hookups for wrasses.

Aari007 · Apr 17, 2022

homer1475 said:
All leopards are born female, if kept in multiples, one will turn male.

You can typically keep leopard with leopards without issues.

I currently house a melagris, negrosensis, and moyers. I do have a little issue with the melagris and moyers, but it's a dominance thing more then aggression, it is getting better.

If you check out the wrasse lover stickie at the top, you'll see many of us keep many leopards together.

Alright nice. I wanted to make a nice harem of them.