The good ol' leopard wrasse

[reefman13]

I have finally decided that I am going to take the plunge and buy a leopard wrasse.

Some quick questions that I have tried to clarify myself and have had no luck.....

>1. Which is better for them, frozen mysis or flake foods?
>2. How big of a refugium would you need to provide enough pods?
>3. Any specific corals that they MIGHT nip at?

Any recommendations for the acclimation phase and first few weeks would be great.

Thanks
Dave

[EdKruzel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10882747#post10882747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefman13
>1. Which is better for them, frozen mysis or flake foods?

Flake should only be used as an occasional treat. Meaty frozen foods are best.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10882747#post10882747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefman13
>2. How big of a refugium would you need to provide enough pods?

Something like the hang on models sold by CPR can provide an ample amount of supplemental pods as food.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10882747#post10882747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefman13
>3. Any specific corals that they MIGHT nip at?
No, they are coral safe.

[reefman13]

Thanks Ed, you cleared that right up!

Right now I use Hilkari Frozen Mysis and Bio-Blend flake. So I assume if my baby powder brown is happy my leopard will be too.....

As of now I have a huge clump of Cheato in my tank in the far left hand side under 96W PC's ( the side the halide doesn't reach) do you think that would create a sufficient amount of pods for now? I plan on adding a separate 5g fuge, but as of now thats all I have for pod cultivation.

Now its just going to come down to finding a happy, healthy, fat, and active one that is in my price range.....

[EdKruzel]

The pods are a good supplemental food source, but make sure you find one eating prepared foods before purchase.

[AquaReeferMan]

>1. Which is better for them, frozen mysis or flake foods?

I feed mine PE mysis. I personally think its the best you can buy. Mine doesnt bother with flake food. It sure enjoys nori though.

>2. How big of a refugium would you need to provide enough pods?

Any size would work. It doesnt need to be big at all. I have a 10g section in my sump.

>3. Any specific corals that they MIGHT nip at?
Nope.

[reefman13]

What company is responsible for "PE Mysis" and what exactly is "nori"???

Thanks for the help guys.

[RokleM]

Both of mine get a mixture, as does my entire tank. Cylopeeze daily and a rotation of Rod's food, mysis, flake, zooplankton, but they REALLY love arctic pods. They spend about 7-10 hours a day cruising around the tank, picking at glass, sand, and rockwork.

As reef safe as you can get in my opinion.

[reefman13]

Where can I order "Rod's" food and these "arctic pods?"

[thor32766]

have any of you have long success with them?

[EdKruzel]

I have two friends with Leopards; the owner of our local shop has had his in a coral tank (keep flat worms in check) for about 18mths and the other is a pair in a mostly softy and LPS reef for the past 7yrs.

The shop tank is a 125, and the home tank is a 58RR.

[Texsun]

My meleagris eats pretty much anything I through in the tank - mysis, cyclopeeze, pellets and flake. Same with the past wrasse but the key is to feed frequently. These are active fish but its easy to underestimate the need for multiple feedings during the day to keep them healthy.

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10886023#post10886023 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefman13
Where can I order "Rod's" food and these "arctic pods?"

I order Rod's via PremiumAquatics and pickup Arctic pods locally from PhishyBusiness.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10886245#post10886245 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thor32766
have any of you have long success with them?

Personally, success, yes. Long term, no. I'm two for two. My first is a Macropharyngodon bipartitus, which I've had for about 9 months now. In a 180.

http://mad-skillz.com/aquarium/04.28.2007-4.jpg

The second addition I'm not 100% sure (Macropharyngodon meleagris???). It's also in my 180, and the two get along 99% of the time. VERY VERY occasionally the black will "play" a bit with the bipartitus, but it's shortly lived. I've had it for 6 months.

http://mad-skillz.com/aquarium/05.27.2007-2.jpg

[AquaReeferMan]

Ive had my meleagris for 8 months now. I had a bipartitus(my favorite fish) for 6 months with the meleagris. For some reason my female polymnus clown decided to grab a hold of it and feed it to the carpet anemone. It will be replaced once I get rid of my clowns and actually find another healthy one. The only thing they didnt eat was flake food. I give my tank a mix of the following: PE mysis, Formula 1, Rods food, Live brine, Prime Reef flakes, and Nori sheets. Nori is sushi seaweed wraps. You can usually find them in the asian foods section of your grocery store. If not you LFS should carry them.

[AquaReeferMan]

PE mysis is Piscine Energetics mysis shrimp. Check it out here.

http://www.mysis.com

[reefman13]

So I am about to place a large order for this "PE" mysis, is it agreed that it is a very high quality food? Better than Hilkari?

On the site (Premium Aquatics) I can also order some cyclopeeze, pellets and flake. Is there any particular kind that is the best in that respect? I was thinking OmegaOne for flake/pellet.....

Thanks again for everyone's help.

[RokleM]

There are dry versions of cylopeeze, but I use the frozen. For flake I use formula one and two.

[reefman13]

Where can you buy the frozen kind?

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10893729#post10893729 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefman13
Where can you buy the frozen kind?

Almost all the LFS's (I get mine at PhishyBuissiness as well) have it around here. I believe premium might have it in stock. It comes in a brick/bar form.

[lordraptor1]

it the wrasse is anything like my rainbow wrasse it will eat just about anything, mine doesn't want to eat anything but omega one flake or the occasional silverside (which it tries to steal from my lion)

[jda]

Mine get a staple of hth, spectrum and formula II pellets. They get mysis a few times a week. Pods aren't that big of a deal if they eat other foods.

I also think that PE is better than Hikari. I like spectrum pellets the best.

[reefman13]

Okay, thanks guys.