Black Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon Negrosensis)

Care Level : Expert Only

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Black, White, Yellow

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 4"

Origin : Indo-Pacific

Family : Labridae

Minimum Tank Size : 75 gallons

The Black Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon Negrosensis), also known as the Yellowspotted Wrasse, has a wide distribution across the western Indo-Pacific, eastern Indian Ocean, Australia and Christmas Island. 

The Black Leopard Wrasse has a dark body with light blue to yellowish spots. The dorsal fin has black and white diagonal stripes, and it may have red highlights on the tail and head. There are few differences between males and females, each reaching an adult size of approximately 4″.

A 75 gallon or larger aquarium with well established live rock and a layer of live sand is recommended. If it is housed with semi-aggressive fish, the Black Leopard Wrasse might jump out of the tank and therefore we recommend you to put it in a closed lid tank.

It is peaceful and wonderful fish that can be housed with others of the same genus. They will do best when introduced in groups of three or more. Given their peaceful and timid nature, a Black Leopard Wrasse should not be kept with overly aggressive species, especially those that can outcompete it in food resources.

It eats small invertebrates (foraminiferans and amphiopods) that grow on live rock. The Black 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. This wrasse has a high metabolism so they should be fed several small meals rather than two large meals a day.

Size: Small 1-1/2" to 2",Medium 2" to 3, Large 3" to 4"