The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[reef_ranch]

Congratulations! That blue is amazing isn't it?

 

[dnov99]

Congratulations! That blue is amazing isn't it?

Thank you! Yes it's the most incredible blue color you will see on a fish!

 

[maroonman]

Daaaang!!
Reminds me of a lighting storm.
Where did you locate it at?

 

[KoleTang]

Daaaang!!
Reminds me of a lighting storm.
Where did you locate it at?

There have been several up on Diver's Den over the past month or so. Not sure if that's where he got it, but if you're looking that's a good place to start.

 

[Reikigirl]

Beautiful!

 

[dnov99]

Daaaang!!
Reminds me of a lighting storm.
Where did you locate it at?

My LFS brought it in for me. Quality marine has been bringing them in recently.

 

[maroonman]

This guy is tuff to photo.
And of course everyone wants in the pic.

 

[Naiad]

My LFS brought it in for me. Quality marine has been bringing them in recently.

My lfs ordered one, unfortunately it arrived d.o.a. Was still amazingly beautiful.

 

[Djbrandriff150]

My LFS brought it in for me. Quality marine has been bringing them in recently.

How much they get you for?

 

[tweeter]

How hard are Anampses meleagrides? Will they coexist with cirrhilibrus and halichoeres? Do you recommend treating for worms before intro into main tank?

Thanks

 

[eatbreakfast]

How hard are Anampses meleagrides? Will they coexist with cirrhilibrus and halichoeres? Do you recommend treating for worms before intro into main tank?

Thanks

They will coexist well with Cirrhilabrus and Halichoeres wrasses, but are more difficult to keep. They do not ship well and do best in a well established system. I strongly encourage trrating for worms prior to introduction to DT.

 

[tweeter]

They will coexist well with Cirrhilabrus and Halichoeres wrasses, but are more difficult to keep. They do not ship well and do best in a well established system. I strongly encourage trrating for worms prior to introduction to DT.

Thanks, I'll do that.

 

[tweeter]

How hard are Anampses meleagrides? Will they coexist with cirrhilibrus and halichoeres? Do you recommend treating for worms before intro into main tank?

One more question. Once they go thru the acclimation and quarenteen period, are they hardy after that? Are they hard to feed (picky eaters)?

 

[4FordFamily]

How hard are Anampses meleagrides? Will they coexist with cirrhilibrus and halichoeres? Do you recommend treating for worms before intro into main tank?

One more question. Once they go thru the acclimation and quarenteen period, are they hardy after that? Are they hard to feed (picky eaters)?

Mid you're quarantining properly, they will have either died (because they didn't eat for several weeks) or they're eating well most likely.

 

[tweeter]

Thank you all so much for your help. It's really nice to have somewhere to go when you have questions!

 

[4FordFamily]

Thank you all so much for your help. It's really nice to have somewhere to go when you have questions!

Yup, and even seasoned veterans can learn from others. I have been in the hobby maybe 12 years and I am still learning constantly. I am glad to help when I can and this community is much better for this purpose than say reefcentral (IME).

 

[Steven C]

Has anyone kept a sand sifting goby with leopard wrasse Macropharyngodon meleagris

 

[4FordFamily]

Has anyone kept a sand sifting goby with leopard wrasse Macropharyngodon meleagris

I had one for a few weeks without issue, it starved and died though (nothing to do with the leopard wrasses). I have eight leopards total.

 

[Steven C]

I had one for a few weeks without issue, it starved and died though (nothing to do with the leopard wrasses). I have eight leopards total.

wow eight that must be great i have the goby and i want to get leopard wrasse multiple. I want to get maybe 3 leopards this will be my first attempt at them should i buy them together or one by one ?

 

[4FordFamily]

wow eight that must be great i have the goby and i want to get leopard wrasse multiple. I want to get maybe 3 leopards this will be my first attempt at them should i buy them together or one by one ?

Honestly, it depends.

So I got very lucky, my first leopard success was a lone potters wrasse (actually a leopard). She was tough as nails and ate almost immediately. Every subsequent leopard addition was quick to eat as a result of watching her, I suspect. I have had little issue with leopards but again I highly suspect this is attributable to the plethora of other wrasses (particularly other leopard wrasses) present.

However, if you do not have access to a leopard that is established from another hobbyist or possibly divers den, I would buy a group. (You are not likely to be as lucky as me and have your first leopard eat like a pig and thrive, most likely and will go through several before this occurs). You can mix and match them just fine, so long as you have only one male.

I have:
1 Male Blue Star
2 Female Blue Star
2 Regular Leopards (Melagris)
1 Lg Black Leopard
1 Ornate Leopard
1 Potters Leopard

I actually have an additional teeny tiny black leopard that was shipped to me that I have no idea if it remains or not.

I had much more difficulty with female blue star leopards than any other type of leopard (Although my luck with the rest is atypical I hear).

Anyway, the end story here is you can mix and match leopards without issue.

Fully expect them to hide for 3 days to 2 weeks when you get them. They'll dive in the sand. It will take up to a month for them to adjust to the "jet lag" (they come from Africa generally and are used to a completely different light schedule). When they emerge from the sand for the first time, it is likely to be FIRST thing in the morning or towards the end of the evening just before the lights go out. Not sure why, but Jet Lag is the assumed culprit. Don't worry though, they seem to do fine even if they hide for two weeks. They either eat when the lights are off, or can go a long time without eating. I am not sure which. I would not stress. (Easy to say, hard to do in practice). It's completely standard leopard behavior.

Live blackworms can get almost any finicky leopards eating... mixing frozen foods (microwaved to thaw, drained, and soaked in selcon, garlic guard, and cod liver oil is how I do it) also works very well. Try both. You'll have to be slow moving and feed when you first see the leopard. Quick movements when they first emerge will send them back to the sand for another day or three.

Just some tips. I have mastered leopard wrasses it seems LOL