One fish that's barely alive!!!!! Help!   Leopard wrasses, beh., fdg.    02/27/2008
Last month we bought a Macropharyngodon meleagris wrasse. It then disappeared for I don't know how long. Presuming that it had swum into an anemone, we went out on Sunday and bought two Macropharyngodon geoffroy. When they were introduced to the main aquarium, the pair swam about. When I put my hand in to clean the tank they bolted into the sand. No one saw them at all on Monday, that is until I tore the take apart.
<<Yes, I can understand this, its their self defense mechanism which is to bury themselves in the substrate. What size of tank is this and how long has it been running?>>
I was cleaning the gravel under the larger anemone's rock, when the supposedly dead wrasse flew out of the sand like it was being chased by the devil. It was barley thicker than three pieces of paper. Then it dove behind the largest rocks and into the sand. I frantically drained half of the tank, put the corals and coral covered rocks into the other aquarium. I got all of the fish out, and began my search for the three leopards. Once everything was back to normal, I tried to feed the starved leopard. It ate one mysis shrimp. I then resorted to a trick that always works. To weak to swim
away, I used my gloved hand to hold the fish. Using a needleless injector, I placed the wrasse's mouth to the injector, and fed it daphnia. It ate, it was almost like feeding a baby dolphin. But I have no idea what it does want to eat. The guy at the store fed the fish flakes. But how can I feed them, if they never come out?
<<With this fish, its a case of do whatever it takes to feed until it has generated enough strength to do this for itself. These fish should only be introduced into a "very" well established full reef which has a refugium. These feed on natural foods from the sandbed like pods etc etc..If you can get this to readily accept prepared foods, then all the better, however, I would not solely rely on this as its food source>>
<<Thanks for the questions and good luck with these "very" delicate species. A Nixon>>

Re: Leopard Wrasse in Sand Bed for Extended Period – 12/17/07
I was very happy, I saw him swimming around this morning and he even ate.
<<Very good to know>>
By the way I got it from the pet shop I work at so I observed him for over two weeks to make sure he ate and was healthy
<<Excellent>>
Thanks for the tips though.
Thomas
<<Thank you for the update. Regards, EricR>>

Macropharyngodon bipartitus (Blue Star Leopard Wrasse)
Leopard Wrasse- In A Refugium?  11/26/07
Hi Everyone,
<Hiya! Scott F. in today!>
I've been reading through your site for a long time and found it to be a great help. I have a 90 gallon SPS/LPS display tank with a 30 gallon sump and a 36 gallon refugium. As of right now, the refugium has 20 lbs of live rock, a deep sand bed, and assortment of various macroalgae.
I've been looking into adding a fish into the refugium. I was wondering how a Blue Star Leopard wrasse would work in the fuge. I have searched many sites regarding this wrasse, half of the sites state that this fish cannot live in a tank smaller than a 50 gallon and others say no less than a 30 gallon. Is it the total volume of water in the system or the overall swimming space? Being the system has more than enough volume of water for this in particular fish, Will this work out ok or am I better off looking into some other fish?
Thank you very much!
Erika
<Well, Erika, it's not so much a function of physical space with this species. Yes, it needs ample room- but "space", in this example, is more of a measure of the ability of a system to support the fish's nutritional needs. Larger systems typically generate larger populations of natural food supplies (ie; copepods, amphipods, mysis, etc.). The real challenge with the Leopard Wrasses is supplying them with the quantity and type of foods that they need. You might be able to get them to take prepared foods, which is a plus. However, if they need to depend on natural food sources, at least at the start, an established system of decent size is a plus. Another thought that I had: The function of a refugium is to provide a source of nutrient export/processing for the display aquarium, and to supplement the display with natural foods. As such, you want to maximize this potential productivity by eliminating predators form the refugium! Why would you want to diminish this process by placing a (predatory) fish in there? A healthy foraging Leopard Wrasse can have a significant impact on the refugium's total productivity. Better to see if the fish can be accommodated in your display aquarium. If you're up for the challenge, this fish can be a spectacular addition to your system. Select a healthy specimen, acclimate and quarantine carefully, and you may enjoy great success! Good luck! Regards, Scott F.>

Macropharyngodon kuiteri-- anyone?   9/9/07
Hi Bob and Co.,
<Art>
What do you know about Macropharyngodon kuiteri, one of the Leopard Wrasses?
<Mmm, nada... looks like it was named in honor of Rudie... Likely similar in care, lack of hardiness as the other Leopard Wrasses>
The only information I can find is that it seems to be smaller than other members of the family (10cm, about 4" if I did my conversion correctly), which is good, and that it comes from deeper waters than other members of the family, so it may have different feeding habits.
<Mmm, again, doubtful>
Of course, I'm hoping that you know all about this fish, and that 'different' means 'easier to keep' (but I think I know better!)
Thanks in advance,
Art
<Have never seen this fish... above or below water: http://fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=13141&genusname=Macropharyngodon&speciesname=kuiteri
Our brief coverage of the genus here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/macropharyngodon.htm
and the linked Related FAQs file above.
Bob Fenner>

Blenny questions--oh, and a wrasse/mandarin question!  Comp. Ecsenius, Macropharyngodon,  4/10/07
Good morning and thank you for your wonderful site.
I have just spent a couple of hours reading but I am a little anxious still, so thought I would ask you directly. I ordered a Tailspot blenny(  Ecsenius stigmatura) and was sent a bicolor blenny instead.
<The most common species...>
They will send me the Tailspot soon, but in the meantime, I have to decide what to do with the bicolor. It is currently in my little 14 gallon nano with two pearly Jawfish and a hi-fin banded goby.
<Mmm... not compatible here>
I know he can't stay there. I would like to put him in my 7 year old 150 gallon reef, but I have a large Midas blenny in there and I have had him several years.
<Might go in this sized volume...>
He swims with my lyretail anthias school
<Neat! What this species does in the wild...>
and ignores everyone else, (except very occasionally my flame Hawkfish, not fond of him) but this is another blenny.
<Yes... of the same genus>
Once the bicolor goes in, I can't retrieve him. The midas has one little hole that is his special favorite (to the point that he deliberately knocked a coral   fragment off--I watched him do --that I placed near his cave) so as long as the bicolor avoids that...... Is it worth a try?
<A tough question... I would likely give this fish away ahead of risking real aggression in your 150... And I want to mention I would not place the other Ecsenius in the small tank either...>
Secondly,
I lost my green mandarin after 5 years and so I bought another very large female mandarin recently. I have a spotted female already (this is in the 150 gallon)  and I had read that females get along. (My previous green was a male. ) Well, it turned out I didn't have to worry about the spotted mandarin, because my ornate wrasse just attacked the new mandarin mercilessly, buffeting her and feinting at her, as though biting--it was constant. The strange thing is that the mandarin acted as though nothing was happening
<A strategy of the species... plus their slime is unpalatable...>
and yet the harassment was so vicious and so consistent that I knew she couldn't eat or settle at all. (The wrasse wouldn't even come away from her to eat!  
and he is a pig.) I also know that although he didn't appear to be actually biting her, no obvious wounds)  he does have some teeth and it did seem that the blows from his body would evidently do damage.  
This shocked me because the wrasse has never been a issue with anything, even all the shrimp and snails.  I couldn't catch the wrasse but I did manage somehow to catch the mandarin and I threw her in my 29 gallon nano. I know you will say she can't stay there, but  is there some way I could feed her from the rotifers in the 150 's refugium?
<Yes>
I feed very well, and very diversely and there is plenty of live rock and corals in there. (The nano  is a 3 year old established tank with a small fairy wrasse, a six-line wrasse and a orange spotted shrimp goby with his pistol shrimp )
Patiently awaiting your scolding on the mandarin/nano issue and your advice on the blenny. :)
<Heeee! I wish you were in our neighborhood, so we could visit, I could see your systems>
Thank you very much,
Jeanne
<Bob Fenner>
APOLOGY AND CLARIFICATION
Hello there,
I just sent an e-mail about blennies (and a second question about my mandarin) and I need to clarify. I apparently do NOT have a bicolor blenny that I need to place but a "flametail" listed on their site as Atrosalarias sp. (Does NOT look at all like a lawnmower blenny. Has a small Ecsenius head and body and is dark, almost black with a yellow tail. ) Should be less of a problem since it is not an Ecsenius? Or is this a more aggressive fish?
Jeanne Brown
<Actually, the chances of avoiding WWIII are greatly diminished with this change... This is the species I take it: http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=01-1629-10
I give you good odds that the current Ecsenius will leave this fish alone... now, about that offending Labrid... Bob Fenner>

Leopard and Fairy Wrasse Together? - 03/10/07 comp., sel.
Hope all is well crew.
<<Doing fine, thank you>>
My question for today is would a leopard wrasse get along with my yellow sided fairy wrasse.
<<Is likely, yes>>
The tank is a 90 gallon reef.
<<Too small really...do you have a large and mature in-line refugium to help provide a ready supply of foodstuffs for these little understood and often quite difficult to feed fishes?>>
I really like the potters leopard wrasse.
<<A beautiful fish>>
But all are Beautiful.
<<Indeed>>
What Leopard would you suggest?
<<None are easy...all are delicate shippers and fussy to get to feed.  The majority (80%?...maybe more?) don't survive more than a week or so after capture.  If you can find one that is already feeding on Mysis and/or New Life Spectrum pellets (the latter is important for long-term health in my experience) then you may have a chance of keeping one of these amazing fishes alive.  But if you have any doubts...either in the health/vitality of the fish or your ability to provide for its long-term well-being...do please pass it up for a more suitable species.  Regards, EricR>>

Re: Leopard and Fairy Wrasse Together? - 03/11/07
Thank you for your quick response.
<<Quite welcome>>
Unfortunately at this point I don't have a refuge but I have about 30 pounds of LR just randomly thrown in the sump.
<<Ah...then is a refugium "of sorts">>
The live rock is definitely loaded with pods, and I've seen live Mysis shrimp swimming through the rocks too.
<<Good>>
It's the second time that I've seen my LFS bring in a leopard wrasse and each one has been eating well.
<<Good again>>
But I was concerned more about putting two wrasses in the same tank.
<<Mmm...more concerned than whether the species is suitable for your tank to begin with?...unfortunate>>
Which I've found out the hard way is not a good idea (or at least 2 aggressive species).
<<Indeed, some species are more suitable for mixing in a small tank than others.  It would be wise to avoid species from the genus Pseudocheilinus here.  EricR>>

R2: Leopard and Fairy Wrasse Together? - 03/11/07
The two wrasses I attempted were in my aggressive tank.  FYI species from the genera Coris and Choerodon.
<<I see>>
My Harlequin didn't want any thing to do with a Red Coris I attempted.
<<Hmm, perhaps in a larger system...>>
But once again thank you for your very quick responses.  I might actually try a leopard wrasse.
Josh
<<Can be kept...but is rare.  Something from the genus Halichoeres would be much hardier, as peaceful, and some are just as amazingly colored (e.g. - Halichoeres ornatissimus).  Regards, EricR>>

Splendid Leopard Wrasse   10/27/06
Hi there
<Hello>
I am thinking of getting a bigger tank and was just wondering how hard splendid leopard wrasses are to obtain, look after and feed.
<Toward the ends of the scale for marine fishes... not easy>
I have been reading about them but have not found much concrete info.
<... please see WWM re the genus Macropharyngodon>
I really want one of these spectacular fish. Could it be housed in a 80 gallon tank if I provide it with three inches of sand bed and plenty of live rock, live sand, an abundance of copepods and other peaceful tankmates.
<Mmmm, maybe>
Also I was wondering whether tangs in general are aggressive or would harass other fish such as the splendid leopard wrasse.
<... see WWM re...>
Thank you for all of your help from Viv
<BobF>

Goby and wrasse questions... Champagne livestock tastes, Bud tank   8/23/06
Hi.
<Hey there!>  
  I have a 45 gallon tank with the following critters - a clownfish (currently residing in an anemone), firefish goby, pajama cardinal, diamond sand goby, scarlet cleaner shrimp, some Christmas tree rocks, some coral frags, some snails and a scarlet legged cleaner crab.   
  I saw a beautiful fish the other day, the store rep said it was an African Aurora Goby which I think is called Amblyeleotris aurora?)
<Maybe>
and he priced it at $80.
<Man! I got out of the fish collection biz much too soon!>
I looked on an internet site and saw something very similar but it was called a Pinkbar goby (for $30), and it was listed as originating from either Indo Pacific or Maldives, aka Cryptocentrus aurora. They look so similar to me, is there any difference?
<Mmm, nope... try putting both names into fishbase.org...: http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12694&genusname=Amblyeleotris&speciesname=aurora
is the same species... is an Amblyeleotris>
And is there a difference between the Indo Pacific one and the Maldives one?
<Mmm, maybe slight geographic variation in color, markings... and likely cost... the further away... the higher>
Also, are they hard to keep, and will there be any compatibility problems with my current fish?
   <Your 45 may be too small to provide sufficient habitat for this shy species to "feel comfortable"... Do you intend to supply an appropriate Alpheid symbiont?
  I also saw a lovely leopard wrasse; again, would there be any compatibility or feeding problems with this fish?
     Thanks for your time,
     Ak
<I would not encourage someone to try a genus Macropharyngodon labrid in such a setting. Bob Fenner>

Reclusive Leopard Wrasse...
I just purchased a leopard wrasse.  Everything seemed to be going well for the first hour or so then I noticed my red spotted hawkfish starting to get a little territorial and chase a little.
<Unfortunately, this is not uncommon behavior for the Hawkfish...These guys share common niches, and there will be some initial squabbling. Is this after you quarantined the fish? Please do quarantine all new acquisitions in the future, for the health of your new and existing inhabitants...Quarantine is especially useful for finicky eaters like Leopard Wrasses, which are often malnourished from the rigors of capture and shipping. If nothing else, quarantine serves as a "hardening" period for them.>
I proceeded to try to remove the Hawkfish for a short period until the wrasse could get acclimated but I could not catch the fish.  I returned a few hours later and have not seen the wrasse in about 8 hours.  I checked behind the tank and no luck.  I have a glass top that covers all but about an inch and a half of the back where the return exits the tank.  Any recommendations?  Do they have a tendency to bury for a period before getting acclimated enough to come out or do you think the hawkfish has driven it crazy?
Thanks, Chris
<Actually, Chris, these wrasses are known for literally burying themselves in the sand for extended periods of time while acclimating to a new situation. They are notoriously reclusive at first, but will "come around" over time, once they feel comfortable and are aware of no threats. Do keep an eye peeled. Again, because of the relatively delicate nature of these fish, quarantine really helps. Not everyone is successful with them. For more information, do read up on the WWM site about these fish. I also recall an excellent article about them in a past issue (like 2-3 years ago) of Advanced Aquarist online magazine that had some great insight into their care. If you can meet their special needs, these are wonderful, unique fishes! Best of luck! Regards, Scott F.>

Doomed leopard wrasses?
hi everybody,
I think the leopard wrasses, especially the guinea fowl wrasse is  super
beautiful.  however, after reading your description it sounds kind of
like they are similar to mandarins: very difficult to keep. I have a 125
gallon reef.  I don't have a mandarin because I just don't like keeping
anything I can't feed.  I just don't want to rely on my reef to supply
all their food.  do leopards eat frozen food, etc? if they do, do you
think they would mix well with a solar fairy wrasse and a tricolor fairy
wrasse?
ps. tell Anthony I am eagerly awaiting his next book
thanks,
john Kim
***Hi John,
Some people have success with this fish, but not enough for me to feel comfortable recommending one for your tank. Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on the reasons why. There are so many beautiful, hardy fishes that do well in our tanks, no reason to take chances on a fish that in all probability will not adapt.
Regards
Jim***