Description

🐆 Ornate Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon ornatus)

The Ornate Leopard Wrasse is a stunning, reef-safe wrasse known for its intricate maze-like pattern of black, green, and gold across its body. Females and juveniles display brighter colors with detailed markings, while mature males may develop more vivid and contrasting tones. Graceful and constantly active, this wrasse adds both motion and exotic beauty to a reef aquarium.

🪸 Care Guide

• Temperament: Peaceful

• Reef Safe: ✅ Yes

• Max Size: ~4–5 inches

• Diet: Carnivore – feeds on copepods, amphipods, small inverts, frozen mysis/brine shrimp, enriched foods

• Feeding Frequency: 2–3 times daily

• Special Note: Needs a mature tank with a healthy pod population or regular feeding

🌊 Tank Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons

• Lighting: Moderate to high

• Water Flow: Moderate

• Substrate: Fine sand – essential for burrowing and sleeping

• Aquascape: Live rock with crevices and open swimming space

🧬 Behavior & Compatibility

• Peaceful and shy at first – often hides when newly introduced

• Gets along well with other peaceful reef fish

• Should be the only Macropharyngodon species in the tank unless introduced simultaneously

Important Notes:

• Requires a sandbed for burrowing at night and when stressed

• May not acclimate well to bare-bottom tanks

• Best introduced to a well-established reef with stable parameters