



WRASSE – LEOPARD VERMICULATE Macropharyngodon bipartitus
$129.99
The Vermiculate Leopard Wrasse, also known as the Blue Star Leopard Wrasse, is native to the Red Sea and around the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. A striking fish that catches the eye and is intriguing to watch, the Vermiculate leopard wrasse requires exceptional dedication and attention from the hobbyist in order to thrive. Like all members of the genus Macropharyngodon, the Vermiculate leopard wrasse absolutely requires a fine sandy substrate in order to be able to bury themselves at night for protection or if felt threatened during daylight. In fact, it is very common for your newly introduced Vermiculate leopard wrasse to immediately bury themselves once released into the aquarium. Juvenile or female Vermilculate leopard wrasses have an overall mottled body color that is red to orange, with pearly white to blue spots, and a large blue to black patch on their abdomen. Males, on the other hand, are predominately blue to green around their face and abdomen with a broken-line pattern that runs the length of their body in variations of red, brown, and yellow colors. Like other Labroids (family: Labridae), Vermiculate leopard wrasses are capable of changing sex; the most dominant fish in the group can turn into a male. Vermiculate leopard wrasses can reach a size of approximately 5″.
Care Level: Advanced
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
General Description: The Vermiculate Leopard Wrasse, also known as the Blue Star Leopard Wrasse, is native to the Red Sea and around the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. A striking fish that catches the eye and is intriguing to watch, the Vermiculate leopard wrasse requires exceptional dedication and attention from the hobbyist in order to thrive. Like all members of the genus Macropharyngodon, the Vermiculate leopard wrasse absolutely requires a fine sandy substrate in order to be able to bury themselves at night for protection or if felt threatened during daylight. In fact, it is very common for your newly introduced Vermiculate leopard wrasse to immediately bury themselves once released into the aquarium. Juvenile or female Vermilculate leopard wrasses have an overall mottled body color that is red to orange, with pearly white to blue spots, and a large blue to black patch on their abdomen. Males, on the other hand, are predominately blue to green around their face and abdomen with a broken-line pattern that runs the length of their body in variations of red, brown, and yellow colors. Like other Labroids (family: Labridae), Vermiculate leopard wrasses are capable of changing sex; the most dominant fish in the group can turn into a male. Vermiculate leopard wrasses can reach a size of approximately 5″.
Diet Requirements: Vermiculate leopard wrasses are carnivores, actively hunting tiny crustaceans throughout the day. Encouraging a Vermiculate leopard wrasse to accept prepared foods can be a challenge. We have found that offering live brine shrimp at the beginning can gain the interest of particularily fussy or stubborn individuals. Note: All of our Vermiculate leopard wrasses for sale are eating frozen foods. Ultimately, a diet consisting of various meaty preparations such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and other mixed frozen foods will maintain optimal health and coloration. We highly encourage soaking frozen foods in vitamin and fatty acid supplements, as leopard wrasses have very high metabolisms. Multiple, small feedings per day rather than one large feeding can also help and in turn create more of a natural environment for the leopard wrasse as it would feed in the wild. Vermiculate leopard wrasses may accept high quality flake or pellet foods with time, which can be great for nutritional gaps and variety. Vermiculate leopard wrasses have an incredible natural ability to control nuisance red Planaria flatworms that sometimes hitch hike on corals or live rock.
Care Requirements: A very established, minimum 55 gallon aquarium with a 3″ sandbed at the very least is needed for a single Vermiculate leopard wrasse. Upgrade the aquarium accordingly to accomodate a pair or a group; more leopard wrasses require a greater abundance of natural food resources. Vermiculate leopard wrasses enjoy a variety of rock work and crevices to swim through and around while they hunt. Such live rock arrangements can also help to make it feel secure and encourage more outgoing behavior. The Vermiculate leopard wrasse is not tolerable of nitrite or ammonia spikes, and an established tank also offers more abundant microinvertebrates and crustaceans (such as amphiopods) for it to prey on. Given their peaceful and timid nature, a Vermiculate leopard wrasse should not be kept with overly aggressive species, especially those that can outcompete it in food resources. It is best to add a Vermiculate leopard wrasse before larger or more active fish in order to allow it to acclimate to the environment and begin feeding. Vermiculate leopard wrasses can be kept in groups, but add all individuals simultaneously for the best success. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.
Purchase Size: Small: 2″ or less; Medium: 2-1/4″ to 3″; Large: 3-1/4″ to 4″
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.
Dry goods orders are shipped via US Postal Service or UPS to the address provided at checkout based on the selection made in your website shopping cart. Product is carefully packed to help prevent any damage during shipping. Once processed you will receive a shipment notification via email with tracking number, and delivery notification. Please allow 48 hours for processing after your order is placed.
Perishable items (i.e. live plants, refrigerated/frozen foods) are shipped via US Postal Service 2-3 day to the address provided at checkout for a $25.00 flat rate charge. Items are packed with secure packing material and heat, cold, or Cryo packs as needed to maintain safe temperatures during transit. If one or more perishable items are in the shopping cart at checkout the $25.00 perishable shipping charge will automatically appear and need to be selected. Once processed you will receive a shipment notification via email with tracking number. Please allow 48 hours for processing after your order is placed.
Livestock (i.e. fish, invertebrates, coral) are shipped via UPS Overnight to the address provided at checkout for a $55.00 flat rate charge. Livestock is packed in insulated styrofoam boxes with secure packing material and heat, cold, or Cryo packs as needed to maintain safe temperatures during transit. If one or more livestock items are in the shopping cart at checkout the $55.00 livestock shipping charge will automatically appear and need to be selected. Livestock is shipped Monday through Wednesday ONLY (no weekend delivery is available) weather permitting, and we reserve the right to delay shipping until conditions are appropriate for safe arrival. Once your order is placed we will contact you to arrange the best shipping date based on these criteria. Someone must be available to receive the livestock order on the first delivery attempt. Once processed you will receive a shipment notification via email with tracking number. Please allow 48 hours for processing after your order is placed.
For mixed dry goods/perishable & livestock orders items will be shipped via their corresponding shipping methods outlined above. Dry goods will be shipped via US Postal Service or UPS based on your selection and checkout, while livestock will ship via UPS Overnight for a $55.00 flat rate charge. You will receive separate notifications and tracking numbers for the dry goods and livestock. Please note due to different carriers and shipping methods dry goods and livestock may arrive on different days.
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