{"product_id":"green-leopard-wrasse-male","title":"Green Leopard Wrasse Male | Macropharyngodon meleagris","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Green Leopard Wrasse is one of the most beautiful of all the leopard wrasses, and this is the male form - the more boldly coloured phase, showing brighter green with orange-red markings and fine ornate patterning across the head and body. Reaching around 15 cm, it is an active, constantly foraging fish that hunts across rock and sand throughout the day and buries itself in the substrate to sleep. It is a stunning reef fish, but an honest word of caution: leopard wrasses are delicate, easily starved and considered an expert-only species that needs a mature system and careful feeding to thrive. Keep a tight-fitting lid, as wrasse are accomplished jumpers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMacropharyngodon meleagris occurs across the Indo-Pacific on coral-rich reefs, mixed sand and rubble zones, where it picks continuously at tiny invertebrates living among the substrate and rock. At night, and whenever threatened, it dives beneath the sand to rest, so a deep bed of fine, soft sand is essential to its wellbeing. In the aquarium it needs an established, peaceful system with abundant live rock, a productive population of small crustaceans, and a proper sand bed to bury into.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe male is the terminal, more colourful phase, developing brighter green with orange to red lines and a more ornate, well-defined pattern than the female, which is a finer green-and-dark spotted \"leopard\" mesh. Males arise when a dominant female changes sex. The body is the classic elongate wrasse shape, and the fish swims with the rowing pectoral-fin motion typical of the family. Healthy specimens are alert, feed eagerly and have full, rounded bellies - a pinched stomach is a serious warning sign in this delicate group.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful. The Green Leopard Wrasse is not aggressive and mixes well with other calm, non-boisterous fish, but it is easily outcompeted at feeding time by faster, greedier species - a genuine risk given how important frequent feeding is for this fish. A single male may be kept with one or more females, but two males should never be housed together, as they will fight. It generally leaves corals alone but may pose a small risk to tiny ornamental shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the critical factor for long-term success. Before purchase, always confirm the fish is feeding. In the wild it eats small benthic invertebrates almost constantly, so offer frequent small meals of enriched mysis, vitamin-soaked brine shrimp, copepods, live blackworm and other fine meaty foods four to five times a day. A mature tank with a live sand bed and rock providing natural micro-prey dramatically improves the odds of success. The great majority of losses in this group come down to slow starvation, so never skimp on feeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of around 380 L, with larger recommended for stability. Maintain temperature at 24-27°C, pH 8.1-8.4 and salinity around 1.020-1.026. A deep bed of fine, soft sand (at least 5 cm) is essential so the fish can bury safely - a coarse or shallow substrate is not suitable. Provide mature live rock, gentle to moderate flow and stable, well-established water conditions; this is not a fish for a new tank. A tight-fitting lid is essential, as leopard wrasses jump, especially when first introduced. Because of its delicacy, this species is best kept only by experienced marine aquarists.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding in the home aquarium is not realistically achieved. Like other wrasses, leopard wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites that spawn by releasing eggs and sperm into the water column, and the planktonic larvae require conditions far beyond normal home systems. The realistic goal for keepers is long-term health through frequent feeding, a proper sand bed and a calm, stable environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMacropharyngodon meleagris\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGreen Leopard Wrasse (Blackspotted \/ Guinea Fowl Wrasse) - male\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific coral reefs, sand and rubble zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4-8 years with excellent care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpert\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e380 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e450 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; frequent small meaty foods and live micro-prey\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, stable reef systems kept by experienced aquarists\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe with caution (small shrimp at slight risk)\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 other peaceful, non-boisterous fish such as small gobies, dartfish, firefish, flasher and fairy wrasses, cardinalfish and calm reef community fish that will not outcompete it at feeding time, along with a harem of female leopard wrasses.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with aggressive or greedy fish such as large damsels, pushy tangs, dottybacks or triggers that dominate feeding, as well as very small ornamental shrimp. Never house two male leopard wrasses together.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234122514723,"sku":null,"price":69.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234122547491,"sku":"AA2002","price":79.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234122580259,"sku":null,"price":89.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Green_Leopard_Wrasse_Male_Macropharyngodon_meleagris_5fa0d19b-313c-46d6-9760-cad0a1cb1bef.jpg?v=1781681624","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/green-leopard-wrasse-male","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}