The stunning Anampses lennardi!
via Quality Marine press release
There is yet another exciting week happening here at Quality Marine with the arrival of the Lennard’s Wrasse (Anampses lennardi). A. lennardi is an extremely rare, beautiful wrasse that has not been imported into the United States for many years, and there was great anticipation about their arrival. This blue and yellow wrasse is found from the Eastern Indian Ocean to Northwestern Australia. Our Australian partners supply Quality Marine with an extensive list of rare and beautiful species, and are a model for their commitment to sustainable collection.
In the wild, adults can be found singly or in pairs around the surge zones, down to about 24 meters deep. The water in this region of Australia goes through drastic temperature changes based on the currents flowing through, which creates a large temperature range that A. lennardi must acclimate to regularly. This wrasse begins life in their juvenile colors of black with white stripes across its body, a yellow dorsal fin, and white spots on its face. However, their color will drastically change as they grow and will continue to become more colorful. The stripes will turn into about five intense, thick blue stripes against a golden body. The yellow and blue colors (shown in the photos) look exquisite under the actinic lighting popular in modern aquariums.
Anampses wrasses are one of the hobby’s most colorful fish, and some are extremely rare. Because of their well-deserved reputation as finicky eaters, we generally recommend them only to experienced aquarists. A. lennardi should be housed in a large aquarium with a sandbed, as that is where they sleep and hide. All Anampses wrasses should be fed a varied diet of thawed marine-based meaty foods and a high quality pellet or flake at least two to three times per day, and more would be better. Aquariums should be covered, as these have a tendency to jump when startled.
Sandbeds are an important aspect of husbandry for Anampses lennardi.
Quality Marine strives to have the best source for high-quality marine organisms available to the hobby, and has always promoted the merits of responsible and sustainable wild-harvest. Not many of these wrasses show up in the aquarium hobby, so it’s quite a treat for us to see one showing up in the United States, especially here at Quality Marine. If you are a hobbyist, visit your local fish store (LFS) and ask about these. If you have a store, ask your Account Manager about how one can be yours.
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