Lyretail Hogfish Care Guide
Bodianus anthioides is an Indo-Pacific reef wrasse with a lyre-shaped tail; juveniles act as cleaner fish.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Bodianus anthioides, the lyretail hogfish, is an Indo-Pacific wrasse described by Bennett in 1832. It is named for its distinctive lyre-shaped tail and is easily recognised by its pinkish front, orange-red rear and elongated caudal fin. Juveniles mimic cleaner fish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Bodianus
- Scientific name: Bodianus anthioides
Habitat
The species is widespread in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea south to South Africa and east to the Line and Tuamotu islands, north to southern Japan and south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands. It is a marine, reef-associated fish recorded at depths of about 6-80 m, typically 6-60 m, on seaward reefs rich in invertebrates such as gorgonians and black corals.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 500 L (about 132 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness range (dKH): 8-12
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
FishBase reports a natural temperature range of about 23-27 °C for the species, consistent with the reef-aquarium values above.
Diet
The lyretail hogfish is a carnivore. Its diet includes echinoderms, molluscs, crustaceans and small fish; FishBase places it at a trophic level of about 3.4. Juveniles also clean parasites from other fish.
Compatibility
Adults are usually seen as lone individuals, occasionally in pairs. As a hard-shelled-invertebrate feeder it may prey on small mobile invertebrates such as shrimps and snails, so it is considered reef-cautious. It suits robust marine tankmates in a large reef or fish-only system.
Breeding
The species is oviparous and forms distinct pairs during breeding. It is not commonly bred in aquaria.
Conservation status
Wikipedia lists Bodianus anthioides as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Lyretail Hogfish (Bodianus anthioides): Breeding Notes
Overview
Bodianus anthioides, the lyretail hogfish, grows to about 25 cm and ranges across the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to the Tuamotu islands. Wikipedia notes adults favour the seaward edges of reefs, in Micronesia commonest below 25 metres, feeding on echinoderms, molluscs, crustaceans and small fish. Its lyre-shaped tail and anthias-like profile are distinctive.
Sexing
Like other hogfishes it is a protogynous hermaphrodite, maturing first as female before dominant fish become terminal males. Juveniles mimic cleaner fish, a developmental trait, while sex itself cannot be read reliably from external appearance in the aquarium.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Wikipedia notes the species forms pairs for spawning. A pair rises from the reef edge into open water to release gametes, which scatter as pelagic eggs. Reproducing this ascent and broadcast in a closed system is not practical, and captive spawning is undocumented.
Egg & Fry Care
The pelagic eggs drift into the plankton, where larvae develop before settling. There is no documented home method for rearing the larvae, so aquarium specimens are wild-collected.
Common Challenges
Adult size, an invertebrate-eating diet, protogynous biology and open-water pelagic spawning are the main barriers. Establishing a stable pair is difficult, and the planktonic larvae lie beyond the reach of standard home aquarium culture.