All fish / Labridae

Potter's wrasse

Macropharyngodon geoffroyi

Also known as potter's leopard wrasse, potters wrasse, shortnose wrasse, geoffroy's wrasse, hawaiian leopard wrasse, leopard wrasse, potter wrasse, ハワイアンレパードラス, 波特氏狐鲷, 夏威夷豹纹隆头鱼

A small wrasse from Hawaii covered in bright orange scales, each edged with blue or dark spots, giving a jewelled leopard look. Keepers value it for its striking pattern and its busy habit of picking over rock for tiny invertebrates in reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

13 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Singly, or one male with females in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: live copepods and amphipods from a mature tank, plus mysis, enriched brine shrimp and finely chopped seafood fed several times a day

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll (central Pacific)

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, so females can change into males, and pairs spawn in the water column producing pelagic eggs. Breeding in home aquariums has not been achieved in any reliable way.

Good to know

Needs a deep, fine sand bed to bury in at night and a mature reef with plenty of natural pods; many specimens starve or ship poorly, so buy only fish seen eating. Hawaiian collection rules may limit supply.