This is the fourth installation of a running series we call Reef Nuggets, a platform in which we share informative and useful tips on reef keeping in general. In this chapter we take a look at my recount regarding the maintenance and husbandry of巨噬细胞vivienae, how they are kept, and the journey from collection to their current place in a home reef aquarium. The following notes can and should be applied to any member of the leopard wrasses, as well as other haremic sand dwelling species in the genusPseudojuloides,Anampsesand so on.
Before we start the recount, here’s a little background information first regarding the species. About a month ago we reported that the Gurroby Family in Mauritius have for the first time, documented and collected the species巨噬细胞vivienaein their region.这是一个范围扩展for this particular leopard wrasse, and prior to this was known only from Madagascar and the East African coast, as well as sporadic documentation of its existence in Kenya.
M. Vivienae是“kuiteri复杂”，是少年和雌性阶段的蛋白石，樱桃带沿着背部水平延伸。鳍是一种半透明的麦芽，位于g盖的上方和后面，是一枚用银色响起的黑色ocelli。与大多数成员一样，少年和小雌性巨噬细胞拥有一个额外的单眼后方d of both the dorsal and anal fin.
像所有豹纹一样，巨噬细胞are sequential protogynous hermaphrodites and are capable of性别改变当社会结构决定机会时，进入男性。随着雌性在末端相变成功能的雄性，颜色变成了相当均匀的覆盆子阴影，同时仍然保持某些蛋白石的腹侧腹侧部分。然而，两种阴影之间的标记不再是明确的定义。在男性中，耳目一点的Ocelli也稍微复杂，它变成蓝色，具有黄色和绿色的网络。男性在贸易中极为罕见，很少收集。
Now back to the recount. About a month ago, Meneeka Gurroby from Mauritius contacted me regarding the identity of a then unknown juvenile巨噬细胞. The juvenile is unlike any of the known species to inhabit the reefs of Mauritius, and based on some educated guesses,巨噬细胞vivienaefrom Africa was the likeliest candidate. It wasn’t long before a small female was collected which confirmed the identity as well as the extension of its range.
巨噬细胞are grazers of small benthic invertebrates and crustaceans. They feed all day in small amounts and really take their time to “chew” their food. They are unique in their morphology, possessing on the upper jaw a set of posterior canines that lend the name “巨噬细胞” to the genus, which in greek means “big-throat-teeth”. Due to the lack of photos online showing the unique teeth structure of leopard wrasses, a pictorial diagram above should help you visualise what we’re talking about.
Because of their constant picking, they need to be fed regularly in small amounts, especially immediately post collection. The Gurroby Family held them for about a week or two before shipping, and during this period they were fed constantly and intensively. This definitely goes a long way in terms of acclimating and conditioning the fish. Allowing a fish to rest and fatten up post collection makes a world of difference, especially with fishes such as these. Once starved, leopards will often refuse feeding, or take a frustratingly painful amount of time to “learn” how to eat again.
Another important consideration was the size of the collected specimens. Four were collected, and of which three were minuscule juveniles barely two inches in length. Fish that are of this size will thin out very quickly and maintaining weight is tricky. Suitable food sizes should be offered as soon as possible, as well as constantly to help with the weight maintenance as well as development during this fast growing period.
The four leopards were sent to me two weeks after collection, and were received in optimal health. Due to their sand dwelling nature, a modified holding and quarantine tank should be provided for this species. Either the entire tank be filled with a soft sandy substrate, or trays filled with sand should be provided. From the point of collection to the second chain of custody, the wrasses were always provided with sand to sleep in as well as well as a constant supply of food in the form of frozen mysis, artemia or finely grated seafood.
A small tray or food container filled with sand is the best option when it comes to temporary holding tanks. It saves all the trouble of filling and cleaning an entire tank of sand, and also provides an easy way to remove and/or transport your portable sandy terrain. In the photo above, the quartet ofM. Vivienaeshares their sandy abode with the likes ofM. cyanoguttatusas well as伪juloides xanthomos.
Two weeks later, the quartet was transferred to their third and final custodian. They were introduced into my reef, where they spend a great deal of time swimming and grazing together. Being haremic and very social, I expected to see all four of them interacting with each other closely, and I did. The largest female keeps the other three in check, who by now have grown about 1.5x their original sizes and are slowly outgrowing their juvenile phase and into the female phase.
即使在这三个较小的人中，也要在头几天内注意到一些轻微的鳍和追逐。这种“大小”行为彼此之间将设定每个成员在这个小层次结构中的位置和位置，并将随着后宫的成长作为一个单位而继续改变和发展。请记住，作为顺序的雌雄同体，在接下来的几个月中，最大的女性将成长为功能性的男性，她的位置将被下一个命中所取代。
Although all four of these leopards were feeding very well on frozen as well as dry food, I was a little bit concerned if they were able to hold their own in a thriving community tank with a myriad of other fishes, many of which were bigger and faster than them.
自从Gurroby家族向我发送信息的第一天以来，我的到来就会有意刮掉我水族馆整个后面板上的所有Coraline Expentrial，相反，我允许短丝状绿色藻类接管。可以这么说，这种藻类草皮又将成为一个copepod牧场，并将成为蓬勃发展的两亲脚架和copepods的主持人。
Although I do not have a refugium, I have a permanent supply of amphipods living in the velcro side of my aquarium magnet cleaner. These do not get eaten by the fish living in the reef aquaria because of their genius hiding spot. Throughout the weeks where the algae was allowed to grow on the back panel of the glass, I stuck the magnet there in hopes that the pods and other mini crustaceans would seek that greener pasture and set up camp there.
I guess it probably worked as I see all four of the leopards constantly swimming against and picking at the algae turf, sometimes in a group feeding together. The short video above illustrates this algae wall and the grazing behaviour. BothPseudojuloidesas well as同步性that live in the same aquarium has also benefitted from this turf, and it provides an additional source of food for the growing leopards in-between feedings. The leopards are kept active, curious, full, and it shows in their bulging bellies.
保持任何豹子的最佳方法肯定是在这样的口径结构中。见证并记录他们在野外的互动，这是令人着迷的，我一直很喜欢并想复制。每当我去潜水时（可悲的是不经常），我总是试图瞥见M. meleagris要么M. negrosensisplaying around their rubble territories. It’s something so endearing and natural that once you’ve seen it in person, makes you wonder why anyone would keep leopards in a pair or even alone.
好吧，我希望我在本次重算中采用的提示和方法对您有帮助，如果您是沃斯（Wrasse）的家伙，请考虑将鱼类留在这样的小组中。虽然我喜欢这么多属的许多物种，但随着我作为水产仪的成熟，我现在少收集了所有东西，并专注于复制对我自然的东西。
我现在没有购买许多我喜欢的扭曲，而是得到了我喜欢的一两个，并以本质上的方式保持方式。cirrhilabrus,Paracheilinus,巨噬细胞,Pseudojuloidesetc are just some of the few you can try. But to me, nothing is more rewarding than leopard wrasses. Their curious, meandering style of swimming coupled with their constant foraging behaviour is a refreshing change from the more activecirrhilabrus. They can be touchy, and they can be sensitive, but if collected properly and treated well from the ocean to your home, they can, as these have proven, make excellent and wonderful additions to your home aquarium.
A big thanks to the Gurroby family for the excellent care and quality of the leopards! The vivien’s leopard wrasse is now being collected more regularly from this location, and those who are a fan of this family should really give it a go!
