Blue Star Leopard Wrasse in a 16 gallon biocube?

[Johny123]

So I cycled my 16 gallon biocube and it was ready for fish after 5 weeks. We have a local mom and pop pet store, with very knowledgeable and passionate staff.

We went to pick out a fish with my kids, and one salesman who is extremely knowledgeable recommended a blue star leopard wrasse female. My family loved the fish, she ate fish food in the store and looked healthy, and we took her home.

I drip acclimated the leopard Wrasse and she quickly buried under the sand not to be seen since yesterday.

Now that I'm doing research, I'm seeing that this fish is considered "expert only," and requires a tank at least 50gallons. I called my local pet store, and the specialist assured me he is fine for the 16gallon tank, and people are wrong. He is adamant that it is a good fish for the tank.

Is he right? This store is very nice, I could probably bring him back today if I made a mistake. Advice?

[A sea K]

To Reef Central
If it were me I would not keep a Leopard in a 16gal cube. I would almost guaranty the fish will succumb to stress as these fish are usually difficult to acclimate anyway which is the primary reason they are labeled as expert only, that and they can be a bit stubborn when it comes eating store bought foods but yours was already eating at the LFS.

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by A sea K

To Reef Central
If it were me I would not keep a Leopard in a 16gal cube. I would almost guaranty the fish will succumb to stress as these fish are usually difficult to acclimate anyway which is the primary reason they are labeled as expert only, that and they can be a bit stubborn when it comes eating store bought foods but yours was already eating at the LFS.

THats what I'm thinking. I'm looking for something easy, but the nice man in the store was adamant that it would be fine. I saw it eat, but I asked several times if it was too big for the tank.

The worst part is after waiting for weeks, I buy a fish that is beautiful for 10 seconds and then...bam...hides under the sand never to be seen again. Haha. I might try to find him and see if the store would take him back.

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by Johny123

THats what I'm thinking. I'm looking for something easy, but the nice man in the store was adamant that it would be fine. I saw it eat, but I asked several times if it was too big for the tank. This guy is really passionate and I trust his judgement...but not sure on this one?

The worst part is after waiting for weeks, I buy a fish that is beautiful for 10 seconds and then...bam...hides under the sand never to be seen again. Haha. I might try to find him and see if the store would take him back.

[wcu]

Do read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/macropharyngodon.htm

That site in general is a treasure trove for general aquaria knowledge.

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by A sea K

To Reef Central
If it were me I would not keep a Leopard in a 16gal cube. I would almost guaranty the fish will succumb to stress as these fish are usually difficult to acclimate anyway which is the primary reason they are labeled as expert only, that and they can be a bit stubborn when it comes eating store bought foods but yours was already eating at the LFS.

Also...if the store will take him back...how the heck am I going to find him in the sand? I'm 90% sure I know where he is, but I will have to go seining and stir up all the sand. Uggg!

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by wcu

Do read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/macropharyngodon.htm

That site in general is a treasure trove for general aquaria knowledge.

[A sea K]

I doubt it should be too much trouble in a 16 gallon cube. I'm actually looking for one myself, any chance you live in the N central FL area?

[Johny123]

Update: Since posting this this morning, he came out from the sand. He is swimming around and picking at rocks. He even ate a few fish flakes. Perhaps I can keep him? I was literally readying the bucket to bring him back to the fish store...

[wcu]

Originally Posted by Johny123

Update: Since posting this this morning, he came out from the sand. He is swimming around and picking at rocks. He even ate a few fish flakes. Perhaps I can keep him? I was literally readying the bucket to bring him back to the fish store...

How big is he? He'll eventually outgrow the tank. Can you feed him 3x a day?

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by wcu

How big is he? He'll eventually outgrow the tank. Can you feed him 3x a day?

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by wcu

How big is he? He'll eventually outgrow the tank. Can you feed him 3x a day?

https://youtu.be/jDpxgN-Sqgg

[BigBlueTang]

Originally Posted by Johny123

https://youtu.be/jDpxgN-Sqgg

He does look healthy.. If only you had a bigger tank.. I have a 75 with a M. Meleagris, and I would definitely not recommend anything smaller than a 75 with a leopard. They're so active, and always swimming around, pecking at the rocks/sand for copepods and amphipods. I'd return him. Do not search the sand for him. He'll most likely be in the same place where he slept the night before, but searching the sand for sand burrowing wrasses is incredibly stressful and might kill him.

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by BigBlueTang

He does look healthy.. If only you had a bigger tank.. I have a 75 with a M. Meleagris, and I would definitely not recommend anything smaller than a 75 with a leopard. They're so active, and always swimming around, pecking at the rocks/sand for copepods and amphipods. I'd return him. Do not search the sand for him. He'll most likely be in the same place where he slept the night before, but searching the sand for sand burrowing wrasses is incredibly stressful and might kill him.

IDK. The people at the pet store were saying they would HAPPILY take him back...but they all agreed he should be fine in my tank. So ultimately my wife and I decided to keep him. He is picking at rocks, going in and out of the sand...I'm going to give it a shot because enough people have said it should be fine.

That said...should I do more frequent water changes? Is there anything I can do to help increase his chance of thriving?

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by Johny123

IDK. The people at the pet store were saying they would HAPPILY take him back...but they all agreed he should be fine in my tank. So ultimately my wife and I decided to keep him. He is picking at rocks, going in and out of the sand...I'm going to give it a shot because enough people have said it should be fine.

That said...should I do more frequent water changes? Is there anything I can do to help increase his chance of thriving?

Here is another video. What a beautiful healthy fish. Hopping he stays that way.
https://youtu.be/SWRqG_j5YXc

[Kremis]

how big is he? you can probably keep him for a while, but eventually you will need to rehome him.

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by Kremis

how big is he? you can probably keep him for a while, but eventually you will need to rehome him.

How big do they get? I planned to just get an easy fish like a clownfish for my daughter. But the store sold us this one, and my wife loved it. I almost returned it today. But then we saw her swim around and got attached.

I feel like now I've made a mistake. There won't be another tank to relocate. This is the tank. I don't plan to get another. Oy.

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by Kremis

how big is he? you can probably keep him for a while, but eventually you will need to rehome him.

It say right now he's about 2 inches.

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by Johny123

It say right now he's about 2 inches.

Pardon me. Probably more like 3 inches.

[BigBlueTang]

Originally Posted by Johny123

IDK. The people at the pet store were saying they would HAPPILY take him back...but they all agreed he should be fine in my tank. So ultimately my wife and I decided to keep him. He is picking at rocks, going in and out of the sand...I'm going to give it a shot because enough people have said it should be fine.



That said...should I do more frequent water changes? Is there anything I can do to help increase his chance of thriving?

Hmm.. Okay then. They're not particularly susceptible to water quality, but definitely keep up on water changes. How often do you feed? A 16g tank will not have enough pods to keep your leopard satiated for long. I would be feeding at least 3x a day with a good frozen food, such as PE mysis, or Larry's Reef Frenzy. That's your best shot. Once the leopard gets through all the pods in your tank, the health of the fish is going to drop.

Also, remember that it's in the fish store's best interest that you keep the fish, as they make money off you. People on this forum have nothing to gain from telling you to return it, and we're just looking out for the fish.

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by BigBlueTang

Hmm.. Okay then. They're not particularly susceptible to water quality, but definitely keep up on water changes. How often do you feed? A 16g tank will not have enough pods to keep your leopard satiated for long. I would be feeding at least 3x a day with a good frozen food, such as PE mysis, or Larry's Reef Frenzy. That's your best shot. Once the leopard gets through all the pods in your tank, the health of the fish is going to drop.

Also, remember that it's in the fish store's best interest that you keep the fish, as they make money off you. People on this forum have nothing to gain from telling you to return it, and we're just looking out for the fish.

I will take your advice on food. As for the fish store I really trust them even if they gave me bad advice. They said they would happily take it back no questions, the ball was in my court to return it. So I cant blame them...I usually google everything, but when you have two kids with attention sdpans of flies sometimes you make decisions without proper research.

He's eating the flakes a little, but I've noticed too much goes wasted (which will destroy my tank). He's not the type of fish to go bananas for the fish food.

[Johny123]

Originally Posted by BigBlueTang

Hmm.. Okay then. They're not particularly susceptible to water quality, but definitely keep up on water changes. How often do you feed? A 16g tank will not have enough pods to keep your leopard satiated for long. I would be feeding at least 3x a day with a good frozen food, such as PE mysis, or Larry's Reef Frenzy. That's your best shot. Once the leopard gets through all the pods in your tank, the health of the fish is going to drop.

Also, remember that it's in the fish store's best interest that you keep the fish, as they make money off you. People on this forum have nothing to gain from telling you to return it, and we're just looking out for the fish.

Update: So after 2 days I brought the Leopard Wrasse back to the store. They took him back no problem for credit. This fish was beautiful, healthy, and showing all positive signs...but I am a novice, and the wellbeing of the fish is the most important thing. He deserves a proper large tank.

Bought a small clownfish. My daughter will be thrilled. Because...you know...Nemo.

[wcu]

Originally Posted by Johny123

Update: So after 2 days I brought the Leopard Wrasse back to the store. They took him back no problem for credit. This fish was beautiful, healthy, and showing all positive signs...but I am a novice, and the wellbeing of the fish is the most important thing. He deserves a proper large tank.

Bought a small clownfish. My daughter will be thrilled. Because...you know...Nemo.

Good on you. I'm sure in the long run all involved will be happier. It was a beautiful fish though.

[BigBlueTang]

Originally Posted by Johny123

Update: So after 2 days I brought the Leopard Wrasse back to the store. They took him back no problem for credit. This fish was beautiful, healthy, and showing all positive signs...but I am a novice, and the wellbeing of the fish is the most important thing. He deserves a proper large tank.

Bought a small clownfish. My daughter will be thrilled. Because...you know...Nemo.

What! No way! This never happens! First time that I've seen on this board in three years of someone actually doing the responsible thing. You did the right thing, I promise. Have fun with the clown, they're amazing fish. I have a bonded pair in my 75g who steal the show anytime friends and family come over.