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Leopard Wrasse
Wrasse

Leopard Wrasse

Macropharyngodon meleagris

An exquisitely spotted sand-associated wrasse and one of the harder reef fish to establish. It is a poor shipper — it burrows into the bag and can injure its mouth — and a finicky feeder that must be weaned onto frozen foods, so it needs a mature tank rich in micro-fauna and a deep, fine sand bed to bury in at night. Peaceful and reef-safe, but strictly an advanced fish; a harem of juveniles added together settles best.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
3.9"
Min tank
90 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Sand bed, Bottom, Rockwork
Keep one male with several females in a large tank.
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Tankmates

How Leopard Wrasse gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Christmas WrasseLeopard Wrasses are slow, delicate feeders that need calm at mealtimes. The Christmas Wrasse is an aggressive, fast Halichoeres that is documented as unsuitable with more peaceful wrasses — it takes the food first.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Leopard Wrasse.Divided Leopard WrasseLeopard Wrasse and Divided Leopard Wrasse are the same genus (Macropharyngodon) and will fight — keep only one.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Leopard Wrasse.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Leopard Wrasse.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Leopard Wrasse.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Leopard Wrasse.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Leopard Wrasse.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Leopard Wrasse.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Leopard Wrasse.Blue-Leg Hermit CrabLeopard Wrasse hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Blue-Leg Hermit Crab is on the menu.Trochus SnailLeopard Wrasse hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Trochus Snail is on the menu.Astrea SnailLeopard Wrasse hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Astrea Snail is on the menu.Cerith SnailLeopard Wrasse hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Cerith Snail is on the menu.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Blonde Naso TangBlonde Naso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Desjardini Sailfin TangDesjardini Sailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.Orange Shoulder TangOrange Shoulder Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Leopard Wrasse and may harass it.