Spanish Hogfish Care Guide
Bodianus rufus is a western Atlantic wrasse with a yellow-and-purple body; juveniles act as cleaner fish, adults prey on invertebrates.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Spanish hogfish (Bodianus rufus) is a wrasse of the family Labridae native to the western Atlantic. It is recognised by a body that is purple or violet above and yellow below. Adults reach a reported maximum length of about 40 cm, though most do not exceed 28 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Labridae
- Genus: Bodianus
- Scientific name: Bodianus rufus
- Described by Linnaeus, 1758
Habitat
Bodianus rufus occurs in the western Atlantic from North Carolina and Bermuda through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to southern Brazil. It inhabits coral and rocky reefs at depths of about 1 to 70 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 600 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Adult size: up to 40 cm
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
Adults are carnivorous, feeding on molluscs (snails, mussels and squid), crustaceans, echinoderms such as brittle stars and sea urchins, worms and small fish. Juveniles function as cleaner fish, removing parasites from other reef species.
Compatibility
This is a semi-aggressive, diurnal wrasse that swims in the middle water column. It is suited to fish-only systems with robust tank mates such as tangs and cardinalfish. Small shrimp and some snails are at risk because adults prey on invertebrates.
Reef compatibility
Bodianus rufus is generally considered reef-unsafe in mixed reefs because adults consume ornamental shrimp, snails and other invertebrates; corals themselves are usually left alone. Specific gravity 1.024-1.026, carbonate hardness 8-12 dKH.
Conservation status
The IUCN Red List assesses Bodianus rufus as Least Concern. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and appears in the aquarium trade.
Spanish Hogfish (Bodianus rufus): Breeding Notes
Overview
Bodianus rufus, the Spanish hogfish, can reach 40 cm though most stay under 28 cm. Wikipedia places it in the western Atlantic from North Carolina and Bermuda through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to southern Brazil, on coral and rock reefs from 1 to 70 metres. Adults eat molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, worms and small fish, while young individuals act as cleaner fishes.
Sexing
Hogfishes are protogynous hermaphrodites; the Spanish hogfish matures first as female and the dominant individual becomes the terminal male. The largest, most dominant fish in a group is generally the male, with no dependable external colour difference to read sex from.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
As in other Bodianus, spawning involves a pair leaving the reef and ascending into open water to release eggs and milt. This pelagic broadcast cannot be reproduced in a home tank, and captive spawning of the Spanish hogfish is not documented.
Egg & Fry Care
Fertilised eggs are pelagic and drift in the plankton, where larvae develop before settling. No documented home rearing method exists, so aquarium animals are wild-caught from the western Atlantic.
Common Challenges
Its large adult size, broad invertebrate diet that makes it reef-unsafe in mixed systems, protogynous sex change and open-water pelagic spawning all rule out practical home reproduction. The dispersing larvae are beyond standard aquarium culture.