{"product_id":"ornate-leopard-wrasse-female","title":"Ornate Leopard Wrasse Female | Macropharyngodon ornatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Ornate Leopard Wrasse is a beautiful but demanding fish, its females patterned in an intricate mosaic of green, orange and white. This is an expert-only species that is notoriously difficult to feed and establish, and it should only be attempted by experienced keepers with a mature, pod-rich system. It reaches around 13 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMacropharyngodon ornatus occurs across the Indian Ocean and into the Western Pacific on coral and rubble slopes with sandy patches. It hunts tiny crustaceans over the substrate by day and buries itself in the sand to sleep at night. A deep, fine sand bed and a thriving population of copepods and amphipods are essential to keeping it alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemales and juveniles show the classic \"leopard\" pattern — a dense network of green to olive markings with orange and white blotches over a pale base, and often an eye spot on the dorsal fin. It is a small, elongate wrasse with a delicate mouth suited to picking tiny prey. Freshly imported specimens are often thin and stressed, which makes selecting a plump, actively feeding fish critical.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and reef safe, it will not trouble corals or ornamental invertebrates and is easily bullied by more assertive fish. It does best in a calm aquarium with gentle tank mates, where it is not outcompeted for food. Multiple leopard wrasses can be kept only in large, well-established systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the hard part. Leopard wrasses are prone to starvation much like a mandarin, relying heavily on live pods picked from sand and rock. Offer frequent small feedings of enriched mysis, live brine and copepods, and try to wean it onto frozen and prepared foods, but success depends on a large natural food supply. A small or new tank cannot sustain this species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of 200 L that is thoroughly mature, with a deep fine sand bed for burrowing and abundant live rock supporting a pod population. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity 1.023–1.025. A tight lid is important, and stable, high water quality is essential. Quarantine is tricky because bare tanks lack the sand and food this fish needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeopard wrasses are pelagic spawners and are not bred in home aquariums; the tiny larvae require specialised rearing beyond hobbyist means. Focus entirely on establishing and feeding a single healthy specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMacropharyngodon ornatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrnate Leopard Wrasse (Female)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndian Ocean and Western Pacific reefs\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\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\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; live copepods and amphipods, enriched mysis and brine — difficult to feed\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\u003e1.023–1.025\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 deep sand bed (experienced 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 for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include peaceful fish such as clownfish, firefish, small gobies, cardinalfish, flasher and fairy wrasse, and other calm species that will not outcompete it for food.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with aggressive or fast-feeding fish such as larger wrasse, hawkfish, dottybacks and triggers, which will bully or starve it. Do not add it to new or under-matured tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234150727971,"sku":null,"price":42.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234150760739,"sku":"BA9253","price":47.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234150793507,"sku":null,"price":52.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Ornate_Leopard_Wrasse_Female_Macropharyngodon_ornatus_1ccff6ad-5d50-4be8-849f-b37143fccdcc.jpg?v=1781681628","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/ornate-leopard-wrasse-female","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}