Leopard Wrasse Preparation

[Longnose Hawkfish]

The one fish that I have been wanting for a long time is a blue star leopard wrasse. I have a 93 gallon cube with one kole tank, a red head Solon wrasse, and a carpenters flasher wrasse. I have about 100 lbs of live rock and a 15 gallon refugiums. At night I can clearly see an abundant supply of copepods and amphipods in the tank. I plan on ordering the blue star from an online vendor who will qt it and get the fish eating my choice of frozen food. The fish will also be shipped with sand in the bag. I was wondering if I am going in the right direction of obtaining a blue star leopard wrasse. Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Sounds like a good start. Macropharyngodon species frequently have internal parasites so treating with prazi might not be a bad idea. None of your other fish should pose a problem either.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

If it is eating frozen food and shipping goes fine, will the fish most likely survive in the long term?

 

[fragman4]

I would say yes your going in the right direction but it is risky relying on another persons/vendors qt process. Other then that the fish is cool for sure!

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Is there anything i should do to prepare for it?

 

[TruRacr314x]

Good luck...that's one fish I've had no success with. It is on my must have list...just haven't been able to make it happen. I've had success with other leopards...just not the bipartitus. What vendor will QT it like that for you? I've seen a few of those, but didn't think any of them are in business anymore. My advice would be to play the numbers...order 3 and hope for 1 to live...order 5 to get a pair.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Exotic Reef Creations. And I think I will just go with one

 

[Marshall O]

My female M. bipartitus was my first Leopard Wrasse. Bought it online, arrived in awesome shape (no damage to the mouth), and ate for me after a day or two. If your tank is large enough (which it is), I would not worry too much about the food aspect so much as it shipping well. They will usually take to mysis in a short amount of time. I always recommend QT'ing, and treating for worms as eatbreakfast mentioned. Otherwise, assuming you get a healthy one to begin with, once you get them eating, they are an easy fish to care for IME.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Well that's encouraging. Hopefully it will arrive eating.

 

[MIKE NY]

this leopard was one of the harder ones for me to acclimate because it stayed buried for almost three weeks before it came out, so dont get discouraged, but once it did it started to take chopped PE mysis right away...made sure it was eating well and healthy before placing it in the DT where it would have to compete for food...almost 4" now and doing well, but not changing with the other larger Leopards in the DT with it....I like the female coloration better anyway..LOL