All fish / Labridae

Spanish Hogfish

Bodianus rufus

Also known as spanish hogfish, yellow and purple hogfish, red hogfish, no, スパニッシュホグフィッシュ, 西班牙猪齿鱼, 西班牙寇丁

A sturdy wrasse with a purple to violet upper front body that changes sharply to bright yellow along the rest of the body and tail. Hardy, active and good at taking food, it is a popular choice for larger fish-only aquariums.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

28 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

450 litres

Keep as

Keep singly, one per tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, krill, chopped shellfish and squid, quality marine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic: Bermuda and Florida through the Bahamas and Caribbean to Brazil

Breeding

This species changes sex from female to male (protogynous), and males keep a harem of females, with pairs releasing eggs and sperm into open water. Breeding in home aquariums has not been reported, so trade fish are wild caught.

Good to know

It grows large and eats shrimps, crabs, snails and small fish, so it is not reef safe for invertebrates. Older fish may pick on smaller or more timid tankmates.