Why has my new Leopard Wrasse disappeared?

It is completely normal for a newly introduced Leopard Wrasse to bury itself in the sand bed immediately. They do this to sleep and de-stress, and may remain buried for several days up to two weeks. Never dig them up, as this causes immense stress.

How deep should the sand bed be?

You need a fine-grained sand bed that is at least 5 to 7 centimetres (2 to 3 inches) deep. The wrasse needs to be able to fully submerge its body horizontally to sleep safely.

Can I keep this wrasse in a bare-bottom tank?

No. Keeping a Leopard Wrasse in a bare-bottom tank will cause severe stress and likely lead to fatal injuries as the fish repeatedly smashes its snout against the glass trying to bury itself at night.

Is the Blue Star Leopard Wrasse reef-safe?

Yes, they are considered completely reef-safe. They will not bother corals, anemones, or larger ornamental invertebrates. They may occasionally snack on very tiny feather dusters or micro-shrimp, but standard clean-up crews are entirely safe.

Why won't my wrasse eat flakes or pellets?

Leopard Wrasses are highly specialised micro-predators. They naturally hunt live copepods and rarely recognise dry foods as edible, especially when newly imported. You must offer live pods, frozen mysis, and enriched brine shrimp to tempt them.

MarineMarineAdvanced

Blue Star Leopard Wrasse

Macropharyngodon bipartitus

The Blue Star Leopard Wrasse is a striking, reef-safe species renowned for its intricate spots, though its specialised care needs make it best suited to experienced marine aquarists.

List this species for sale Find Blue Star Leopard Wrasse near me

Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 23 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 14 – 22 dGH
Salinity: 1.02 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 10 – 13 cm
Mature reef aquarium: 250 litres+
Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
Diet: Carnivore
Water flow: Moderate
Preferred setup: Requires a fine sand bed of at least 5-7 cm depth for burrowing and sleeping.

About the Blue Star Leopard Wrasse

The Blue Star Leopard Wrasse, or Divided Leopard Wrasse, is widely considered one of the most beautiful additions to a marine aquarium. Females boast a vivid red-orange body speckled with bright blue spots, while males take on a greenish-red hue with distinct linear markings. They are incredibly active during the day, constantly weaving in and out of the rockwork in search of food. Their unique sleeping habits and dietary demands require thoughtful preparation before bringing one home.

Find Blue Star Leopard Wrasse

Search current listings in your chosen area. If none are available, save an alert and we’ll let you know when a match is listed.

Find locally Check compatibility Add to a Setup

Availability alerts only use public sale listings. Adding this species to a Setup updates your private records.

Is it right for your tank?

Check Blue Star Leopard Wrasse against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Blue Star Leopard Wrasse comes from

Native range

Western Indian Ocean

Countries / regions

Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, South Africa

Habitat

Lagoon and seaward reefs, typically foraging over mixed sand, rubble, and coral substrates.

Primarily found in the Western Indian Ocean from the Red Sea down to Kwazulu-Natal, and eastwards to the Maldives.

Similar species

Ornate Leopard Wrasse
Macropharyngodon ornatus
Black Leopard Wrasse
Macropharyngodon negrosensis
Meleagris Leopard Wrasse
Macropharyngodon meleagris

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful disposition that will not bother or compete aggressively with the wrasse.
Great
Firefish
Nemateleotris magnifica
Darts in the upper to middle water column and leaves the wrasse entirely alone.
Great
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Herbivorous grazer that will not compete for the wrasse's vital micro-invertebrate food source.
Great
Mandarin Dragonet
Synchiropus splendidus
Competes heavily for the same natural copepod food source in the aquarium.
Compatible with caution
Six-line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Can be aggressive towards other wrasses and will outcompete the leopard wrasse for food.
Compatible with caution
Clown Triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum
Far too aggressive and predatory; will easily terrorise or consume a peaceful wrasse.
Not recommended
Moon Wrasse
Thalassoma lunare
Highly active and boisterous wrasse that will easily outcompete and bully the delicate leopard wrasse.
Not recommended

Current marketplace listings

Checking the marketplace…

See all Blue Star Leopard Wrasse listings

Public Wanted requests

No open requests for Blue Star Leopard Wrasse in this market yet.

Looking for Blue Star Leopard Wrasse?

Search current listings near you, or post a wanted request so local sellers know what you’re looking for.

Search Blue Star Leopard Wrasse listings Post a wanted request