Blue Star Leopard Wrasse Male

Blue Star Leopard Wrasse

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Macropharyngodon bipartitus

Overview

Reef Compatible: YES
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Docile
Origin: South Asia

The Blue Star Leopard Wrasse, also known as the Vermiculite Wrasse or Divided Wrasse, boasts a captivating color pattern. Juveniles and females exhibit a pearly white body adorned with mottled oranges, yellows, and browns. Light blue spots are sprinkled throughout their pattern, and they sport a large blue to black spot on their stomachs.

In contrast, the males are truly eye-catching. They shine in brilliant neon green and blue hues, with black outlines forming a broken striped pattern along their bodies. These wrasses are part of the Macropharyngodon genus and have some unique characteristics:

• They require a fine sandy substrate, as they bury themselves at night for protection.
• A well-established aquarium is essential, as they naturally hunt for small crustaceans during the day.
• While challenging to adapt to captivity, expert reef aquarists can provide them with the proper care and environment to thrive.
• Leopard Wrasse have the ability to change sex, with the most dominant fish turning into a fully functioning male.
• Found around the East African coast in the Western Indian Ocean, and the Maldives.

• Diet: Their menu should include vitamin-enriched frozen mysis shrimp, frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods, along with high-quality marine flake and marine pellet food.