The Blue Star Leopard Wrasse, also known as the Vermiculite Wrasse, or Divided Wrasse, has a distinct color pattern. The females or juveniles have a pearly white body with a combination of mottled oranges, yellows, and browns, with light blue spots found throughout the pattern, along with a large blue to black spot on their stomach. The males are brilliant neon green and blue with black outlines in a broken striped pattern down the length of their bodies.
Like other members of the genus Macropharyngodon these fishes require a fine sandy substrate as they bury themselves at night for protection. They require a very well established aquarium as they naturally hunt for small crustaceans throughout the day.
Leopard Wrasse are challenging fish to adapt to a captive environment, but in the hands of the expert reef aquarist who can provide these fishes with the proper care and environment, they can thrive and make for an incredible display. It is ideal to introduced Leopard Wrasse to the display aquarium well before any larger or more active fishes are introduced, so that they have ample time to settle in and adapt to their new environment, and start feeding on prepared foods well. If trying to maintain a small group of these fishes, introducing them simultaneously into the display is ideal. Like other Labroids these fishes have the ability to change sex, as the most dominant fish in the group can turn into a fully functioning male.
This unique wrasse is found around the East African coast in the Western Indian Ocean. The healthiest fishes hail from the Maldives, as this is the only region we offer the Blue Star Leopard Wrasse from.
The Blue Star Leopard Wrasse diet should include vitamin enriched frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods along with a high quality marine flake and marine pellet food.