Male or female leopard wrasse?

[jordan10]

Looks male to me but owner of fish store swears it's female?

 

[homer1475]

Looks to be a male Meleagris to me. Lets get an expert in on this @OrionN.

 

[jordan10]

Looks to be a male Meleagris to me. Lets get an expert in on this @OrionN.

Thanks

 

[OrionN]

That is an Ornate Leopard. This is a species that Male and female are similar. I think it is a female but not 100%.
Male very similar in color but brighter and have tail with dark side stripes. Let me see if I can find a picture.
Picture by Robert Fenner

 

[jordan10]

That is an Ornate Leopard. This is a species that Male and female are similar. I think it is a female but not 100%.

I want that type of female. Where would be best place to order. And the fish I have is different then these wrasses?

 

[OrionN]

Look up Ornate Leopard, the female of which is what you have.
LA picture above is male and female of Meleagris Leopard .

 

[jordan10]

Look up Ornate Leopard, the female of which is what you have.
LA picture above is male and female of Meleagris Leopard .

So is the fish I have meleagris leopard? Or different? Cuz it doesn't look like the female in the pic with male and female. Sorry I am confused.

 

[OrionN]

The fish you have is a female Ornate Leopard.

 

[jordan10]

The fish you have is a female Ornate Leopard.

Ok thanks. So the pic with the male and female. Why doesn't it look like that female? Is it a different kind of leopard wrasse? Sorry to keep bothering ya.

 

[OrionN]

Read this article

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/hcs3/index.php

And this

Tropical Fish Article Library | TFH Magazine

www.tfhmagazine.com

 

[ca1ore]

Looks male to me but owner of fish store swears it's female?

My ornate looks just like that and my larger male bipart leaves it alone so I assume it’s a female.

 

[ca1ore]

Ok thanks. So the pic with the male and female. Why doesn't it look like that female? Is it a different kind of leopard wrasse? Sorry to keep bothering ya.

The male/female pictures you posted are of a different leopard species, meleagris. Actually its the most commonly available, particularly as females.

 

[jordan10]

The male/female pictures you posted are of a different leopard species, meleagris. Actually its the most commonly available, particularly as females.

Thanks got it now. Can u keep 2 females of the kind I have?

 

[ca1ore]

You can usually mix females, it’s multiple males that become problematic.

 

[jordan10]

You can usually mix females, it’s multiple males that become problematic.

Nice thanks for ur time and info. The fish store guy showed me a pic of the meleagris leopard and said that's what I be getting. And then I got that so I was confused lol. But still a lovely fish. I like the marking of the meleagris so think I going try find one still.

 

[OrionN]

That first picture, of the Female Ornate Leopard, show that she is not doing good. She is very thin, atrophic dorsal muscle and very empty stomach. If you don't get her to eat soon and a lot, she will not do well. Good luck with her, Leopards are not one of the easier wrasse for a beginner.

 

[jordan10]

That first picture, of the Female Ornate Leopard, show that she is not doing good. She is very thin, atrophic dorsal muscle and very empty stomach. If you don't get her to eat soon and a lot, she will not do well. Good luck with her, Leopards are not one of the easier wrasse for a beginner.

well she eats good every time I feed and I try feeding more just hard when I leave for work at 4 am and not home till round 5pm on a good day but I have been feeding every time I see her out. And her dorsal muscle will that cause her top finn not open? And I have been at this hobby for 5 – 6 years now. So idk if u can call me a beginner. Just never had any experience with this fish and I have read up on them how they are hard to keep. Just seems to be alot of different leopard wrasse out there.

 

[ca1ore]

She is very thin, atrophic dorsal muscle

Minh. Is that what you mean by the slight ‘pinching’ behind the head?

 

[OrionN]

If she eats well that is great. Once acclimated captive live they eat everything. I works long hours too. Normally leave home at 7 and won’t get back until 6:30 to 7. I Jane my light on 14 hrs day and moon light too so I can see the tank at night and before And after I leave and return.
I am a believer in automatic feeder. I have automatic feeder that feed the tank 8 times a day, every hours.
You may want to consider something like this. Good luck with her

 

[OrionN]

Minh. Is that what you mean by the slight ‘pinching’ behind the head?

Yes. That and the pattern of the spots indicate that the dorsal muscle area is concave instead of convex as it should be.