Blue Star Leopard Wrasse EXPERT ONLY

Overview

Key Characteristics

• Care Level: Expert only due to delicate nature and specialized needs.
• Temperament: Generally peaceful, but may conflict with others of its own genus or similar wrasses if not introduced properly.
• Reef Compatible: Yes, it is a good addition to an established reef aquarium.
• Max Size: Up to 5 inches.
• Coloration: Exhibits sexual dichromatism (males and females have different colors).
  • Females/Juveniles: Predominantly reddish-orange body with complex pearlescent white, orange, and light blue spots and markings.
  • Males: Brown-to-red body with intricate vibrant green and blue broken stripes and blotches. 

• Minimum Tank Size: A minimum of 50-55 gallons is recommended for a single specimen.
• Substrate: A fine, soft sandy substrate of at least 2-3 inches deep is essential, as they burrow into the sand for sleeping or when stressed. Avoid sharp, larger-grade substrates which can cause injury.
• Aquascape: Provide an environment with plenty of established live rock, caves, and hiding places to make the fish feel secure and provide natural foraging grounds for microinvertebrates.
• Cover: The aquarium must have a tight-fitting lid to prevent the fish from jumping out.
• Water Conditions: Requires stable, optimal water parameters (temperature 72-78° F, salinity 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, dKH 8-12). 

Diet and Feeding

• Multiple Feedings: Due to a high metabolism and constant activity, they need to be fed small amounts of food multiple times a day (two to three or more).
• Varied Diet: Offer a varied diet of meaty foods. They can be finicky eaters initially and may require live foods, such as live brine shrimp, to encourage feeding.
• Prepared Foods: Gradually introduce high-quality frozen and prepared foods, such as vitamin-enriched mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and marine pellets or flakes.
• Foraging: An established aquarium with a healthy population of live microcrustaceans is vital to supplement their diet. 

Compatibility and Care Tips

• Tank Mates: House with other peaceful tank mates. Avoid aggressive species that might outcompete it for food or territory.
• Groups: Can be kept in groups (a harem of one male and several females) in a large enough tank, provided all individuals are introduced simultaneously. The most dominant female may change sex to become the male of the group.
• Acclimation: They are sensitive to capture and transport stress. It is often recommended to add them to the main display tank quickly (perhaps after a brief dip) to allow them to settle and begin eating, rather than undergoing a potentially stressful quarantine process. 

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