The Leopard Wrasse is commonly referred as the Guinea Fowl Wrasse, or Blackspotted Wrasse. It features a dark body with light blue to yellowish spots, which makes it a captivating specimen in your tank.
This species has two different appearances depending on gender. Like all of the wrasses of the Macropharyngodon genera, the Leopard Wrasses are born as females. If there is no male present, one female will become male and the color pattern changes.
Females are white with multiple black or brown irregular spots with white to blue margins covering the entire body and the males have an orangish-red background color with green mottling covering the body.
They are considered passive fish, and reef safe - however they are NOT recommended for beginner hobbyists. They are known for often being quite hard to get established within a saltwater aquarium and are easily stressed out, reducing their survival rate.
Once adjusted to a established 90 gallon or larger aquarium, the Leopard Wrasse will make a wonderful peaceful community fish and is known to be one of the few Wrasses that can be kept with its own species. In both cases however, they are harmonious as long the mix is all females with just one male.
Also, mature live rock that have micro-crustaceans living in it is vital for nutrition and a sand bed of at least 3 inches should be provided for their sleeping and hiding behaviors. A newly introduced Wrasse will most likely make for the sand bed and stay there for some days before emerging. Don’t panic if they are not seen for a while, they will eventually pop their heads out of their new sand bed.
Leopard Wrasse should not harm any cleaner shrimp, feather dusters or small crabs. Likewise they are not a threat to any corals in the tank. Leopard Wrasses also have a reputation as jumpers so aquarium hobbyist should keep screens over their tanks to keep them from carpet surfing.
Diet: Includes frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods along with a high quality marine flake and marine pellet food.