ordering leopard wrasse online??

Razzagas · 06/19/2006, 07:54 PM

I want to find a healthy potter's wrasse. Any websites that I could get a really healthy one (and would preferably ship it w/ sand in the shipping bag)??
Thanks
PS my LFS doesn't sell them...

eastcoaster1 · 06/20/2006, 06:34 PM

I ordered a few from Live Aquaria...all were DOA.
You might try www.themarinecenter.com. They deal with a lot of exotic and rare fish, so they might be more skilled at shipping sensitive species.

Bret61081 · 06/20/2006, 11:03 PM

They arent good shippers....AT ALL!! The LFS I usually go to will never order them b/c he said over 90% of the time they were DOA....He now only gets them from local wholesale...If your LFS will order them for you, thatd be the best way...Mine told me the best chance of survival is from Africa.

ozz1116 · 06/21/2006, 01:01 AM

The wrass you are talking about is almost impossible to keep
even if you got it to feed. Read more on this fish. I know marine
experts with $15,000 systems that tryed many of them and failed.

marrstarr · 06/21/2006, 01:55 AM

Potter's wrasse can be kept. The key is getting a good one shipped correctly. They need sand in the bag. You also can not QT this fish the normal way. They need sand and lots of live rock to hunt for pods. There is a great article some place on this site about keeping leopard wrasses. I do live in Hawaii so shipping was not an issue for me. They are only $15 here.

danieljames · 06/21/2006, 02:06 AM

Horrible track record for these fish man. What are your plans for care? Just curious. A friend of mine here just had one die for no apparent reason. Seems it not uncommon at all. Do you know of people keeping these wrasse healthy long term marrstarr?

Razzagas · 06/21/2006, 11:58 AM

I have heard of many people keeping them...it is just important to get a VERY healthy one...
theres an article on them here
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hcs3/index.php

marrstarr · 06/21/2006, 01:13 PM

Thats the article I was talking about. They are not any harder then mandarins if you get a healthy one to start with. Its the same deal they eat live pods so you need the right setup. If they are not shipped in sand or are in a holding tank without sand they are doomed. They will damage there mouths trying to find a spot to hide. Once they hurt there mouth its over.

RichConley · 06/21/2006, 01:18 PM

Theres 1 issue with leapord wrasses: Getting a healthy one in the first place. Once you get a healthy one, theyre actually REALLY easy to keep, and the potters is no exception.

Theyre actually MUCH MUCH easier to keep than mandarins, because they will readily take frozen foods.

ariel47 · 06/21/2006, 01:29 PM

REEFHOTSPOT.COM

Razzagas · 06/21/2006, 01:39 PM

Rich: where do you recommend getting one?

RichConley · 06/21/2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Razzagas
Rich: where do you recommend getting one?

Online, I dont. If anywhere, Live Aquaria because they seem to be pretty cheap, and they back up their guarantee.

The best is to get one from a local shop, or a hobbiest breaking down a tank.

Where are you Razzagas?

Razzagas · 06/21/2006, 02:05 PM

MD/DC area

ReefHotSpot · 06/22/2006, 12:51 PM

Hey Razzagas,

I was just searching our name and found this thread. Leopard wrasses are tricky. That said, I agree with Rich. If you get a good one--and I wouldn't necessarily say it has to do with health because a lot of healthy ones just don't take to aquarium living--then you can have him for a long time and he will be a relatively easy fish to keep. NOTHING LIKE the relative difficulty of keeping a mandarin. Those that take to aquarium living don't need any special feeding and take pretty much everything meaty. From my own experience keeping them in home tanks, you might have to push your feeding times up a couple of hours because they often go to be early.

Best Regards,
Max

Ibwrasstaman · 06/22/2006, 12:58 PM

I had a Potter's wrasse that I enjoyed for several years. The key was getting a good healthy one. The first 2 I tried died within days.
I now have an ornatus or ornate leopard wrasse. It is IMO the coolest of the leopard wrasses.
See if you can get one locally. I waited over a year!
Good luck,
Wrassta

bllfish · 06/22/2006, 06:34 PM

I picked up a Macrophyngodon negrosensis, commonly called the Yellowspotted or Black Leopard wrasse in my LFS and it is doing great. It was a very healthy fish and attacked the flake & brine mix they dropped in before I bought. I have had it for about 9 months now.

I also purchased a lineatus fairy wresse from www.reefhotspot.com.

I had been looking for one for some time and contacted Max at Reef Hot Spot. He took about two weeks looking for one, letting me know what he had found and why he did not feel comfortable getting it for me. He finally called and said he found one, emailed me pix. When the wrasse arrived it spent one day doing the wrasse hiding thing and the second day it was swimming around the tank. It eats anything I put into the tank including flake. I would strongly recommend contacting Max at reefhotspot.com. He seem to be very informed and taked the time to look for healthy fish, not just make a quick sale.

RichConley · 06/22/2006, 06:42 PM

bllfish, thats not a negroensis, thats a bipartatus, and a very nice one at that.

bllfish · 06/22/2006, 06:48 PM

You are right, I didn't know the name. When I bought it they said it was an African Leopard Wrasse. I just went to the web page listed above and copied the wrong name. DAA! Thanks for the heads up and the compliment for the negroensis. I think I will stick with African leopard.

ReefHotSpot · 06/22/2006, 08:31 PM

Hey Bllfish,

That is one awesome leopard. That type is somewhat rare, as leopards go, but they seem to do pretty well. It looks like he as great size too. It might be one of the bigger ones I've seen judging from the coco and the zoos in the background. That is, unless your pushing it out toward the camera like they do on the covers of those fishing mags. Nice Catch

Nice corals in the background too. Looks like they're really taking nicely to your tank.

Best Regards,
Max

bllfish · 06/22/2006, 08:37 PM

Thanks Max,
No trick photography. He is my second favorite fish. The tank is really doing great and the lineatus you found for me is unbelievable. He has quite the personality. Whenever I approach the tank, he is the first one to the top looking for some food.
I think you can tell what my fav fish is.
Thanks again Max.

ReefHotSpot · 06/24/2006, 01:59 PM

Hey Bill,

Just playing with you. The leopard is a fabulous fish. Congrats!

Best Regards,
Max

Texsun · 06/25/2006, 11:59 AM

I have the same species of leopard wrasse as bllfish, Macropharyngodon bipartitus. Great fish and and as a juvenile resides in my 30g. Rivals my percula for the biggest pig award. Will it anything I throw in the tank.

I'm not sure where this misconception came from that they are difficult to keep because of their diet. As others have stated, it's a matter of getting a healthy one without a damaged mouth or stressed from shipping without a sandbed. A sandbed is absolutely critical as mine buries when the lights go out and rises shortly before the lights come one in the morning like clockwork.

I've visited Reefhotspot and have seen a few of the wrasses (meleagris, I believe) that he's selling. The owner is really into wrasses in general and they all seemed healthy and well-aclimated, so if you are inclined to mail order, I'd get them from him.

bllfish · 06/25/2006, 12:12 PM

Your point about the damaged mouth and health is right on. When Max at reefhotspot.com was looking for my lineatus he called me several times, probably to prevent me from getting impatient

, and he mentioned that he had looked at about fifty lineatus but they had messed up mouths or did not have real good color. The wait turned out to be well worth it.

extinguishfire · 06/25/2006, 09:31 PM

Here is a couple of pics of my leapord wrasse. This is the third one I have had. The one in the first pic is the first and was fine the first night, eating frozen. Went under a rock to what I thought was to sleep and make a home. Well after he went under rock I never saw him again. Second was a trooper and he was just fine for 6 months until he jumped out my tank. Now that I have eggcrate on top I got another one of the same type as 2nd wrasse and he is doing just fine after 2 months.

Present wrasse. Hard to get a good photo of it since they swim constantly.

06/19/2006, 07:54 PM	#1
Razzagas Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 653	ordering leopard wrasse online?? I want to find a healthy potter's wrasse. Any websites that I could get a really healthy one (and would preferably ship it w/ sand in the shipping bag)?? Thanks PS my LFS doesn't sell them...

06/21/2006, 02:06 AM	#6
danieljames Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Franklin, TN Posts: 2,453	Horrible track record for these fish man. What are your plans for care? Just curious. A friend of mine here just had one die for no apparent reason. Seems it not uncommon at all. Do you know of people keeping these wrasse healthy long term marrstarr? __________________ "Humble pie....mmm mmm good"

06/21/2006, 01:18 PM	#9
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	Theres 1 issue with leapord wrasses: Getting a healthy one in the first place. Once you get a healthy one, theyre actually REALLY easy to keep, and the potters is no exception. Theyre actually MUCH MUCH easier to keep than mandarins, because they will readily take frozen foods. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

06/22/2006, 06:34 PM	#16
bllfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 1,818	I picked up a Macrophyngodon negrosensis, commonly called the Yellowspotted or Black Leopard wrasse in my LFS and it is doing great. It was a very healthy fish and attacked the flake & brine mix they dropped in before I bought. I have had it for about 9 months now. I also purchased a lineatus fairy wresse from www.reefhotspot.com. I had been looking for one for some time and contacted Max at Reef Hot Spot. He took about two weeks looking for one, letting me know what he had found and why he did not feel comfortable getting it for me. He finally called and said he found one, emailed me pix. When the wrasse arrived it spent one day doing the wrasse hiding thing and the second day it was swimming around the tank. It eats anything I put into the tank including flake. I would strongly recommend contacting Max at reefhotspot.com. He seem to be very informed and taked the time to look for healthy fish, not just make a quick sale. __________________ "I fish by myself because lots of people don't like me, and the ones that do like me, well, I don't want them to know my spots." ><)))))*>--- Current Tank Info: 72 bow, 36" stand, 4 54W T5, vantec stealth fans, eheim 1260, mj 1200 & 2 Koralia #1 to WaveMaster Pro, CPR 24" Aquafuge HOB & 7100K PC, JBJ Arctica chiller, LiterMeter III

06/22/2006, 06:42 PM	#17
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	bllfish, thats not a negroensis, thats a bipartatus, and a very nice one at that. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

06/20/2006, 06:34 PM	#2
eastcoaster1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NH Posts: 265	I ordered a few from Live Aquaria...all were DOA. You might try www.themarinecenter.com. They deal with a lot of exotic and rare fish, so they might be more skilled at shipping sensitive species.

06/20/2006, 11:03 PM	#3
Bret61081 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,078	They arent good shippers....AT ALL!! The LFS I usually go to will never order them b/c he said over 90% of the time they were DOA....He now only gets them from local wholesale...If your LFS will order them for you, thatd be the best way...Mine told me the best chance of survival is from Africa.

06/21/2006, 01:01 AM	#4
ozz1116 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: wisconsin Posts: 75	The wrass you are talking about is almost impossible to keep even if you got it to feed. Read more on this fish. I know marine experts with $15,000 systems that tryed many of them and failed.

06/21/2006, 01:55 AM	#5
marrstarr Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 69	Potter's wrasse can be kept. The key is getting a good one shipped correctly. They need sand in the bag. You also can not QT this fish the normal way. They need sand and lots of live rock to hunt for pods. There is a great article some place on this site about keeping leopard wrasses. I do live in Hawaii so shipping was not an issue for me. They are only $15 here.

06/21/2006, 11:58 AM	#7
Razzagas Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 653	I have heard of many people keeping them...it is just important to get a VERY healthy one... theres an article on them here http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hcs3/index.php

06/21/2006, 01:13 PM	#8
marrstarr Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 69	Thats the article I was talking about. They are not any harder then mandarins if you get a healthy one to start with. Its the same deal they eat live pods so you need the right setup. If they are not shipped in sand or are in a holding tank without sand they are doomed. They will damage there mouths trying to find a spot to hide. Once they hurt there mouth its over.

06/21/2006, 01:29 PM	#10
ariel47 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ms Posts: 638	REEFHOTSPOT.COM

06/21/2006, 01:39 PM	#11
Razzagas Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 653	Rich: where do you recommend getting one?

06/21/2006, 02:05 PM	#13
Razzagas Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 653	MD/DC area

06/22/2006, 12:51 PM	#14
ReefHotSpot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 260	Hey Razzagas, I was just searching our name and found this thread. Leopard wrasses are tricky. That said, I agree with Rich. If you get a good one--and I wouldn't necessarily say it has to do with health because a lot of healthy ones just don't take to aquarium living--then you can have him for a long time and he will be a relatively easy fish to keep. NOTHING LIKE the relative difficulty of keeping a mandarin. Those that take to aquarium living don't need any special feeding and take pretty much everything meaty. From my own experience keeping them in home tanks, you might have to push your feeding times up a couple of hours because they often go to be early. Best Regards, Max

06/22/2006, 12:58 PM	#15
Ibwrasstaman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: OH Posts: 73	I had a Potter's wrasse that I enjoyed for several years. The key was getting a good healthy one. The first 2 I tried died within days. I now have an ornatus or ornate leopard wrasse. It is IMO the coolest of the leopard wrasses. See if you can get one locally. I waited over a year! Good luck, Wrassta

06/22/2006, 06:48 PM	#18
bllfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 1,818	You are right, I didn't know the name. When I bought it they said it was an African Leopard Wrasse. I just went to the web page listed above and copied the wrong name. DAA! Thanks for the heads up and the compliment for the negroensis. I think I will stick with African leopard. __________________ "I fish by myself because lots of people don't like me, and the ones that do like me, well, I don't want them to know my spots." ><)))))*>--- Current Tank Info: 72 bow, 36" stand, 4 54W T5, vantec stealth fans, eheim 1260, mj 1200 & 2 Koralia #1 to WaveMaster Pro, CPR 24" Aquafuge HOB & 7100K PC, JBJ Arctica chiller, LiterMeter III

06/22/2006, 08:31 PM	#19
ReefHotSpot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 260	Hey Bllfish, That is one awesome leopard. That type is somewhat rare, as leopards go, but they seem to do pretty well. It looks like he as great size too. It might be one of the bigger ones I've seen judging from the coco and the zoos in the background. That is, unless your pushing it out toward the camera like they do on the covers of those fishing mags. Nice Catch Nice corals in the background too. Looks like they're really taking nicely to your tank. Best Regards, Max

06/22/2006, 08:37 PM	#20
bllfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 1,818	Thanks Max, No trick photography. He is my second favorite fish. The tank is really doing great and the lineatus you found for me is unbelievable. He has quite the personality. Whenever I approach the tank, he is the first one to the top looking for some food. I think you can tell what my fav fish is. Thanks again Max. __________________ "I fish by myself because lots of people don't like me, and the ones that do like me, well, I don't want them to know my spots." ><)))))*>--- Current Tank Info: 72 bow, 36" stand, 4 54W T5, vantec stealth fans, eheim 1260, mj 1200 & 2 Koralia #1 to WaveMaster Pro, CPR 24" Aquafuge HOB & 7100K PC, JBJ Arctica chiller, LiterMeter III

06/24/2006, 01:59 PM	#21
ReefHotSpot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 260	Hey Bill, Just playing with you. The leopard is a fabulous fish. Congrats! Best Regards, Max

06/25/2006, 11:59 AM	#22
Texsun Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 962	I have the same species of leopard wrasse as bllfish, Macropharyngodon bipartitus. Great fish and and as a juvenile resides in my 30g. Rivals my percula for the biggest pig award. Will it anything I throw in the tank. I'm not sure where this misconception came from that they are difficult to keep because of their diet. As others have stated, it's a matter of getting a healthy one without a damaged mouth or stressed from shipping without a sandbed. A sandbed is absolutely critical as mine buries when the lights go out and rises shortly before the lights come one in the morning like clockwork. I've visited Reefhotspot and have seen a few of the wrasses (meleagris, I believe) that he's selling. The owner is really into wrasses in general and they all seemed healthy and well-aclimated, so if you are inclined to mail order, I'd get them from him. __________________ Fish heads, fish heads Roly-poly fish heads Fish heads, fish heads Eat them up, yum! Current Tank Info: Dipping my toes back with an Elos Mini...

06/25/2006, 12:12 PM	#23
bllfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 1,818	Your point about the damaged mouth and health is right on. When Max at reefhotspot.com was looking for my lineatus he called me several times, probably to prevent me from getting impatient , and he mentioned that he had looked at about fifty lineatus but they had messed up mouths or did not have real good color. The wait turned out to be well worth it. __________________ "I fish by myself because lots of people don't like me, and the ones that do like me, well, I don't want them to know my spots." ><)))))*>--- Current Tank Info: 72 bow, 36" stand, 4 54W T5, vantec stealth fans, eheim 1260, mj 1200 & 2 Koralia #1 to WaveMaster Pro, CPR 24" Aquafuge HOB & 7100K PC, JBJ Arctica chiller, LiterMeter III

06/25/2006, 09:31 PM	#24
extinguishfire Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dallas-Fort Worth Posts: 286	Here is a couple of pics of my leapord wrasse. This is the third one I have had. The one in the first pic is the first and was fine the first night, eating frozen. Went under a rock to what I thought was to sleep and make a home. Well after he went under rock I never saw him again. Second was a trooper and he was just fine for 6 months until he jumped out my tank. Now that I have eggcrate on top I got another one of the same type as 2nd wrasse and he is doing just fine after 2 months. Present wrasse. Hard to get a good photo of it since they swim constantly. __________________ 90 gallon bowfront for a year then upgraded to a 140 gallon in April 2005. Then in October 2007 started a 295 gallon in-wall build.