Choat’s Red Leopard Wrasse EXPERT ONLY

Overview

Habitat and tank requirements

• Tank size: A minimum of 55 gallons is recommended for a single specimen, with a larger tank necessary for a group.
• Substrate: A deep bed of fine, sugary aragonite sand, at least 2 to 3 inches deep, is essential. The wrasse burrows into the sand at night or when startled.
• Aquascape: The tank should have plenty of live rock with hiding places. A mature reef tank is preferred to provide a natural foraging ground.
• Cover: The wrasse is an avid jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is required to prevent it from leaping out of the tank.
• Established tank: It’s best to introduce the wrasse to a mature tank with a thriving population of micro-crustaceans, like copepods, for it to hunt. A sump or refugium can help maintain the copepod population.
• Water parameters:
  • Temperature: 72–78°F
  • pH: 8.1–8.4
  • Salinity: 1.023–1.025
  • Water flow: Moderate 

Diet and feeding

• Carnivorous: The diet should consist of small, meaty foods, as the fish spends its day hunting small invertebrates.
• Feeding schedule: Offer small portions multiple times per day to accommodate its active foraging style.
• Live and frozen foods: A varied diet should include vitamin-enriched frozen foods like mysis shrimp and brine shrimp, along with the live copepods found in the substrate.
• Dry food: Over time, it may accept high-quality marine pellets or flakes, but these are supplements to a meaty diet. 

Temperament and tank mates

• Peaceful but shy: The Choat’s Red Leopard Wrasse has a generally peaceful temperament and will not harm corals or other invertebrates. However, it is shy and can be stressed by more aggressive or larger fish.
• Harem social structure: In the wild, they live in harems with one male and several females. You can keep multiple wrasses if they are added at the same time to a large tank.
• Compatible species:
  • Yellowtail Damselfish
  • Firefish Goby
  • Royal Gramma
  • Pajama Cardinalfish
• Incompatible species: Avoid housing with more aggressive species like hawkfish and some dottybacks, which may bully the wrasse. 

Physical characteristics and life cycle

• Size: The Choat’s Red Leopard Wrasse grows to about 3 to 4 inches in length.
• Sexual dimorphism: Females and males have different coloration. Juveniles start with an opaque white body before developing the orange and red splotches. The dominant female in a group can change sex to become the male.
• Lifespan: With proper care, they can live for 3 to 5 years.
• Appearance: Adult wrasses have vibrant orange and red splotches on a silvery background, with a distinct neon yellow/green pattern on their face. 

Approximate Purchase Size: Small 1″ to 2″, Medium 2″ to 3″, Large 3″ to 4″

Please note: We guarantee that ALL aquaria species we offer will arrive alive and in good condition. However, because of the increased level of care required for this particular species, it has been designated as “Expert Only.” This species is recommended only for the expert aquarist, zoo, or research institution. “Expert Only” aquatic life is exempt from our extended guarantee after their arrival.