Choat's Leopard Wrasse Care Guide
Macropharyngodon choati is an eastern Australian leopard wrasse with orange blotches; it browses gastropods and foraminiferans and is a delicate feeder.
Overview
Choat's leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon choati) is a wrasse of the family Labridae from eastern Australia. Adults bear irregular rows of orange blotches and a black, yellow-edged spot on the operculum. The species grows to about 11 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Macropharyngodon
- Scientific name: Macropharyngodon choati
- Described by Randall, 1978
Habitat
The species is known from eastern Australia, Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs and New Caledonia, and is common on the southern Great Barrier Reef. It occurs in channels and seaward reefs over mixed sand, rubble and coral, to depths of about 30 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Maximum size: about 11 cm
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
- Fine sand bed for burying
Diet
It is carnivorous and is usually seen browsing among the substrate for gastropods and foraminiferans, as well as small invertebrates, crustaceans and snails. Like other leopard wrasses it is a delicate feeder.
Compatibility
Choat's leopard wrasse is a peaceful, diurnal wrasse of the middle column. Adults are usually solitary, though juveniles sometimes school with other juvenile wrasses; calm tank mates and a sand bed are recommended.
Reef compatibility
Macropharyngodon choati does not harm corals and is considered reef-safe, although it grazes small benthic invertebrates and microfauna it relies on for food. Specific gravity 1.024-1.026, carbonate hardness 8-12 dKH.
Conservation status
Macropharyngodon choati is an Australian-region species that appears in the marine aquarium trade. It is documented by the Australian Museum and reef monitoring surveys.