{"product_id":"bluestar-leopard-wrasse","title":"Bluestar Leopard Wrasse | Macropharyngodon bipartitus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Bluestar Leopard Wrasse is one of the most beautiful of all reef wrasses, the male glowing green and orange with electric-blue markings and the female finely spotted. It is a rewarding but demanding fish: buyers should know before purchase that leopard wrasses are delicate, need a fine sand bed to bury in, and must be added to a mature, food-rich tank by an experienced keeper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the wild, the Bluestar Leopard Wrasse is associated with coral-rich reefs, rubble and sand areas of the western Indian Ocean. It picks constantly at rock and sand for tiny invertebrates and buries in the sand at night and when threatened. Replicating this environment is essential: it needs a moderately fine to fine sand bed for burying, plus mature live rock rich in copepods and amphipods. A new or food-poor tank is a common cause of failure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe male Bluestar Leopard Wrasse is vivid green and orange with blue lines radiating from the eye; females and juveniles are darker with fine white to blue spotting. It reaches around 13 cm, with males the largest. Colour and pattern differ markedly between phases. Healthy specimens are alert, actively picking at rock and sand, and well-filled through the body. A thin fish or one that stays buried and will not feed is a serious warning sign.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is best described as peaceful and rather shy. It is reef safe and safe with corals, and it helps control flatworms and small pest invertebrates. Suitable companions are other peaceful fish such as clownfish, small gobies, chromis, fairy wrasses and dartfish in a calm reef. Avoid boisterous or aggressive tank mates and fast feeders that will outcompete it, as this timid fish is easily stressed and starved in a busy tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the main challenge. It naturally grazes tiny live invertebrates all day, so a mature tank with an established population of copepods and amphipods gives the best chance of success. Offer frequent small feeds of enriched live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, copepods, small mysis and finely chopped seafood, and gradually encourage acceptance of frozen foods. Feed several times a day and watch body condition closely, as this species declines quickly if it is not getting enough tiny foods.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor any real chance of success, provide a mature aquarium of at least 200 L, with 300 L or larger preferred, and crucially a moderately fine to fine sand bed for burying. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Moderate flow suits it. Lighting can be standard reef lighting. Provide plenty of mature, pod-rich live rock. Strong filtration, protein skimming and regular water changes of 10–20% are recommended. A tight-fitting lid helps, as wrasses can jump. This is an expert-level fish best added only to established, food-rich systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding in the home aquarium is not achieved and should not be expected. Leopard wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites and pelagic spawners with tiny, delicate larvae requiring specialised rearing far beyond normal home aquarium keeping. Given how demanding this species is simply to keep alive, the realistic focus is establishing it on food and maintaining a stable, pod-rich tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMacropharyngodon bipartitus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBluestar Leopard Wrasse\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWestern Indian Ocean coral reefs, rubble and sand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years with excellent care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful and shy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpert (delicate, hard to feed; needs sand bed)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L (mature, pod-rich)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; small live and frozen foods, fed frequently\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature, established reef aquariums with a sand bed; expert keepers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include clownfish, small gobies, chromis, fairy wrasses, dartfish and other peaceful reef fish, along with corals and ornamental invertebrates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with boisterous or aggressive fish, fast greedy feeders that outcompete it, and bare-bottom tanks without a sand bed to bury in.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55234139881763,"sku":"BA9042-S","price":110.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55234139914531,"sku":"BA9042","price":127.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55234139947299,"sku":"BA9042-L","price":146.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/bluestar-leopard-wrasse-43090659213603.webp?v=1790306143","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/bluestar-leopard-wrasse","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}