Macropharyngodon
To date the five species from this genus that I have housed in my little reef have been brilliant fish. They are wonderfully inquisitive little fish, forever foraging on the live rock and sand bed looking for tasty morsels to eat. They naturally live near sand and rubble beds so should be provided with something similar in the aquarium. It is essential they have a quite deep sand bed as they bury themselves at night or when startled. They hunt around for small invertebrates as their prey but I have never seen them trouble any of my inverts or corals. They will move around the live rock and corals, in and out of any little caves and crevices constantly looking for food and therefore are not always immediately visible, something I like. The fish in this genus are also known as Leopard Wrasse, not because of their nature, which is peaceful, but because most have a spotted pattern across their bodies.
I have found these little fish do well when fed small amounts several times a day. I have had no problem feeding them with frozen or live meaty foods as well as good quality flake or small pellets. As with all fish ensure they are feeding before you buy them. It is not uncommon to read about the difficulties many people have in getting their wrasse to feed. They are often described as difficult to keep for this reason. Personally I have not had any issues until recently. When introducing my latest M. bipartitus she would only eat frozen mysis and brine shrimp. When I discussed this with my LFS he said that is what he fed her on as did the importers. When I introduced different foods she would ignore it for several days or even weeks. It is as if she didn't recognise it as food. Does she need time to learn to recognise different food stuffs? Does she do this by copying other fish, particularly other leopard wrasse? If she was the only wrasse in the tank would she learn to eat different foods? Could this process account for the perceived difficulties in getting wrasse to feed? All of this is pure speculation I know. Still it is food for thought...pun intended!
I have kept these fish with others of their genus as well as other genera of wrasse without problems. When introducing new fish they may hide in the sand bed for a period of time. This can be a bit nerve wracking but it is essential that you do not disturb the sand bed looking for them. This is their safety zone. Using the social acclimatisation box seems to have aided this process. Recent introductions have been up and about the day after introduction to my little reef.
I believe that knowing the scientific name of the fish we keep is crucial to our being able to understand their needs and therefore our abilty to keep them in our reef systems successfully. Things continue to change and keeping up to date is important. New species are being discovered and named as well as previously named species being renamed...highly confusing. According to Fishbase there are now 12 recognised species within this genera. The latest to be described is probably M. pakoko . This species for the Marquesas islands is very similar to M. meleagris but is recognised as a separate species. I have recently come across a fish named as M. lapillus (Jewlled Leopard wrasse) from the Western Indian Ocean. I don't know if this is a new species or a different name for an already described species. Some authorities place this species in the genus Halichoeres, which is even more confusing. Classification has historically been done using fish anatomy and morphology. it will be interesting to see what happens when DNA is used.
Scientific name derives from: Greek, makros = great + Greek, pharyngx = pharynx + Greek,odous = teeth.
Leopards of the Reef: Henry C Shultz 111 (2008)
Leopards for the Reef: Bob Fenner (2011)
Macropharyngodon-A Tale of throated teeth Lemon TeaYK (2016)
A sheep in Leopards clothing Simon Garratt (2011)
Red Sea Leopard wrasse now has its own species, Macropharyngodon marisrubri Jake Adams 2013
Macropharyngodon and notes on maintaining a harem Lemon Tyk (2014)
I have found these little fish do well when fed small amounts several times a day. I have had no problem feeding them with frozen or live meaty foods as well as good quality flake or small pellets. As with all fish ensure they are feeding before you buy them. It is not uncommon to read about the difficulties many people have in getting their wrasse to feed. They are often described as difficult to keep for this reason. Personally I have not had any issues until recently. When introducing my latest M. bipartitus she would only eat frozen mysis and brine shrimp. When I discussed this with my LFS he said that is what he fed her on as did the importers. When I introduced different foods she would ignore it for several days or even weeks. It is as if she didn't recognise it as food. Does she need time to learn to recognise different food stuffs? Does she do this by copying other fish, particularly other leopard wrasse? If she was the only wrasse in the tank would she learn to eat different foods? Could this process account for the perceived difficulties in getting wrasse to feed? All of this is pure speculation I know. Still it is food for thought...pun intended!
I have kept these fish with others of their genus as well as other genera of wrasse without problems. When introducing new fish they may hide in the sand bed for a period of time. This can be a bit nerve wracking but it is essential that you do not disturb the sand bed looking for them. This is their safety zone. Using the social acclimatisation box seems to have aided this process. Recent introductions have been up and about the day after introduction to my little reef.
I believe that knowing the scientific name of the fish we keep is crucial to our being able to understand their needs and therefore our abilty to keep them in our reef systems successfully. Things continue to change and keeping up to date is important. New species are being discovered and named as well as previously named species being renamed...highly confusing. According to Fishbase there are now 12 recognised species within this genera. The latest to be described is probably M. pakoko . This species for the Marquesas islands is very similar to M. meleagris but is recognised as a separate species. I have recently come across a fish named as M. lapillus (Jewlled Leopard wrasse) from the Western Indian Ocean. I don't know if this is a new species or a different name for an already described species. Some authorities place this species in the genus Halichoeres, which is even more confusing. Classification has historically been done using fish anatomy and morphology. it will be interesting to see what happens when DNA is used.
Scientific name derives from: Greek, makros = great + Greek, pharyngx = pharynx + Greek,odous = teeth.
Leopards of the Reef: Henry C Shultz 111 (2008)
Leopards for the Reef: Bob Fenner (2011)
Macropharyngodon-A Tale of throated teeth Lemon TeaYK (2016)
A sheep in Leopards clothing Simon Garratt (2011)
Red Sea Leopard wrasse now has its own species, Macropharyngodon marisrubri Jake Adams 2013
Macropharyngodon and notes on maintaining a harem Lemon Tyk (2014)
Macropharyngodon negrosensis, Black Leopard wrasse. Sometimes known as the yellow spotted wrasse, this is another lovely fish, with very different colouring to the others in its genus. When I first introduced mine into my reef set up she disappeared into the sand bed for a few days as they do. I spotted her one morning poking her head out of the sand. She spent about 20 minutes like this then popped back to bed. This happened for three mornings and then she decided all was good and came out for a swim. After that she was a model citizen. Similar habits to my other leopards and no problem at all. Probably one of the smaller leopards I think and very peaceful with other tank mates. Again, as with my other wrasse no problem with feeding. She would eat everything offered.
Black Leopard Wrasse Animal World
Macropharyngodon negrosensis Fishbase
Black Leopard Wrasse Animal World
Macropharyngodon negrosensis Fishbase
Macropharyngodon ornatus, Ornate Leopard wrasse or sometimes known as a false leopard wrasse. I recently had one LFS refer to this as a red checkerboard wrasse, amazing! This little beauty was my first wrasse. She was very small when I bought her but like all my wrasse purchases she was feeding in the LFS. My tank was about 6 months old when she was introduced. The only other fish were a pair of percula clowns who were also quite small. I thought it might be a risk because of all the 'expert' ratings but I had provided what I thought she needed in my reef setup. For over 6 years she was an absolute star in my reef. Beautiful, active, inquisitive, peaceful and no problem whatsoever for any other reef inhabitants.
I learned a great deal from this lovely fish and she became the basis of my love for wrasse.
I learned a great deal from this lovely fish and she became the basis of my love for wrasse.
She spent much of her life sharing the tank with M negosensis, M bipartus and P mccoskeri. and they proved to be a good mix.
After a long wait I have managed to source a juvenile ornate leopard wrasse to complement my other leopards. As is now my normal way of introducing a new fish I ensured she was feeding in the LFS where she had been for two weeks. As far as I could tell she was healthy and active. I introduced her using the social acclimatisation box after a drip acclimatisation. No problems with hiding in the sand, aggression from other wrasse or feeding.
If you provide these little fish with the right environment they are, in my opinion a perfect reef fish.
Ornate Leopard Wrasse Animal World
Macropharyngodon ornatus Fishbase
After a long wait I have managed to source a juvenile ornate leopard wrasse to complement my other leopards. As is now my normal way of introducing a new fish I ensured she was feeding in the LFS where she had been for two weeks. As far as I could tell she was healthy and active. I introduced her using the social acclimatisation box after a drip acclimatisation. No problems with hiding in the sand, aggression from other wrasse or feeding.
If you provide these little fish with the right environment they are, in my opinion a perfect reef fish.
Ornate Leopard Wrasse Animal World
Macropharyngodon ornatus Fishbase
Macropharyngodon bipartitus, Peacock Wrasse, Blue Star Leopard Wrasse, Divided Leopard Wrasse, Rare Wrasse, Splendid Leopard Wrasse, or Vermiculate Leopard Wrasse. Just a few of the common names for this stunning fish. Mine is a female, the males are a very different colouration. This is a lovely fish in my reef set up. She settled quickly and eats virtually anything I put in the aquarium. She is constantly on the move hunting for small inverts in the rock, sand and among the corals. Again this fish is classed as difficult to keep, "Leopard Wrasse are challenging fish to adapt to a captive environment, but in the hands of the expert reef aquarist who can provide these fishes with the proper care and environment, they can thrive and make for an incredible display." I don't think you need to be an expert to provide what this fish needs, just thoughtful. (see Are wrasse really difficult to keep?)
In my reef she has lived peacefully with a number of different wrasse including a number of others from the genus Macropharyngodon.
A beautiful, peaceful wrasse growing to around 13cms in length.
Peacock Wrasse Maidenhead Aquatics
Splendid Leopard Wrasse Animal World
Macropharyngodon bipartus Fishbase
Super star of the reef Reef2Reef
In my reef she has lived peacefully with a number of different wrasse including a number of others from the genus Macropharyngodon.
A beautiful, peaceful wrasse growing to around 13cms in length.
Peacock Wrasse Maidenhead Aquatics
Splendid Leopard Wrasse Animal World
Macropharyngodon bipartus Fishbase
Super star of the reef Reef2Reef
Macropharyngodon meleagris, also known as the Guinea Fowl Wrasse, or Blackspotted Wrasse. A further example of this lovely genus of fish. This species, in common with most of the genus, has two different appearances depending on gender. Females are white with multiple black or brown irregular spots with white to blue margins covering the entire body. The female's fins may have accents of yellow or tan. The males have an orangish-red background color with green mottling covering the body. Mine is obviously a female! Her care needs are similar to all of this genus so I am hoping she will settle and thrive like my other lovey leopards.
When introducing this fish into my little reef I used the acclimatisation box for a couple of days. For the first time this wrasse was up and active the following day. Normally my leopard wrasse have spent a day or more buried in the sand. She has been active, feeding and confident from day 1 I am pleased to say.
Macropharyngodon meleagris Fishbase
Macropharyngodon meleagris LiveAquaria
When introducing this fish into my little reef I used the acclimatisation box for a couple of days. For the first time this wrasse was up and active the following day. Normally my leopard wrasse have spent a day or more buried in the sand. She has been active, feeding and confident from day 1 I am pleased to say.
Macropharyngodon meleagris Fishbase
Macropharyngodon meleagris LiveAquaria
Macropharyngodon kuiteri, also know as Kuiter's Wrasse, Kuiter's Leopard Wrasse, Ear spot wrasse or a Black Wrasse for some reason. This stunning little fish is an unusual member of this genus as it has different dentition to the other species in the genus. They have the spotted patterns of other Macropharyngodon wrasse but also share features of other genus, most notably the Halichoeres wrasse. The males of this species do lose the typical spotted patterning as they mature.
I normally do quite a lot of research before buying a new fish but have found this rather difficult to do on this occasion. In have seen this wrasse before but it would appear to be rather rare or difficult to get hold off as there seems to be very little information on the old interweb thingy. Even my copy of Rudie H Kuiter's book "Fairy & Rainbow wrasses and their relatives", is a little sparse. Some sources suggest a maximum size of 6 inches whilst others suggest 4 inches. I am intrigued as to why there is so little information on such a beautiful little fish.
As with others of the genus she inhabits the sand and rubble zones in the reefs and buries herself in the sand. I am assuming that care and feeding will be very similar to others in the genus and I am hoping she will get on with my existing wrasse.
As with other recent additions were I have used the acclimatisation box, this little wrasse has been up and active since day one. She seems pretty confident around the tank and will happily feed on frozen mysis and feeder shrimp but is ignoring other foods initially. This has made me reflect on the advice often given about the difficulty of keeping these fish. If the aquarium lacks a thriving population of microfauna the fish may not get enough to eat when first introduced leading to problems. Hopefully I have the microfauna for the fish to feed on. She is eating mysis each day and will hopefully learn to eat other foods. I will try more live brine shrimp in the hope of weaning her onto frozen or tinned brine shrimp later. After a lot of patience my little beauty is now eating anything that falls into the tank!
Macropharyngodon kuiteri Fishbase
Updated 21.10.20
I normally do quite a lot of research before buying a new fish but have found this rather difficult to do on this occasion. In have seen this wrasse before but it would appear to be rather rare or difficult to get hold off as there seems to be very little information on the old interweb thingy. Even my copy of Rudie H Kuiter's book "Fairy & Rainbow wrasses and their relatives", is a little sparse. Some sources suggest a maximum size of 6 inches whilst others suggest 4 inches. I am intrigued as to why there is so little information on such a beautiful little fish.
As with others of the genus she inhabits the sand and rubble zones in the reefs and buries herself in the sand. I am assuming that care and feeding will be very similar to others in the genus and I am hoping she will get on with my existing wrasse.
As with other recent additions were I have used the acclimatisation box, this little wrasse has been up and active since day one. She seems pretty confident around the tank and will happily feed on frozen mysis and feeder shrimp but is ignoring other foods initially. This has made me reflect on the advice often given about the difficulty of keeping these fish. If the aquarium lacks a thriving population of microfauna the fish may not get enough to eat when first introduced leading to problems. Hopefully I have the microfauna for the fish to feed on. She is eating mysis each day and will hopefully learn to eat other foods. I will try more live brine shrimp in the hope of weaning her onto frozen or tinned brine shrimp later. After a lot of patience my little beauty is now eating anything that falls into the tank!
Macropharyngodon kuiteri Fishbase
Updated 21.10.20