Bodianus rufus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Spanish Hogfish

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Bermuda, southern Florida, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and south to Brazil.

Size: 17 inches (43 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits outer rocky reef areas and usually found at depths between 10 – 200 feet (3– 60 m) where it feeds on benthic hard-shelled invertebrate.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade with the adult somewhat drab having an overall tannish-orange body with reddish spots on the face. Yet the juvenile is quite attractive, usually attracting hobbyists, as its body top is purple, with remaining potions of the body, head, and tail, yellow.

Can be maintained in fish-only or reef aquariums, which should provide hiding places and lots of open swimming area. Preferable tankmates are groupers, angelfishes, hawkfishes, and moderately aggressive triggerfishes.

Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, black worms and other meaty type marine-based frozen foods, including flake foods, and should be fed two or three times per day.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Labridae

Genus: Bodianus

FYI: Can annoy smaller peaceful species, yet juveniles are quite shy!

Since they mostly feed upon worms and crustaceans, they pose a danger in reef tanks.

Will disturb sandbeds by blowing jets of water into it to find buried prey.

Usually sleep under rock shelves, on or under a coral branch, in a crevice, or directly on the sand surface.

Hardy species.

Best to introduce this species as the last fish to enter the aquarium.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Moderately aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 200 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5