Spanish Hogfish

[edit] Overview

A common sight on Caribbean reefs, this is a colorful, hardy member of the wrasse family that exhibits interesting behaviors and is a fine choice for larger tanks and robust tankmates. The Spanish Hogfish is a peaceful aquarium inhabitant as a juvenile. However, it will fight with members of its own kind or closely related species. As it grows larger, it is capable of eating smaller tankmates and may pick on affable fishes (especially those added after they are already established in their tank home). Keep one per tank, unless your aquarium is huge.

[edit] Feeding

Omnivore. Feed meaty and algae-enriched foods at least twice a day. Regular meals of color-enhancing rations will help maintain its bright pigments.

[edit] Aquarium Compatibility

It is a dubious selection for the reef tank because of its natural proclivity to dine on a host of invertebrates (including snails, crabs, shrimps, serpent stars, sea stars, urchins). It rarely eats corals, but may knock them over as it looks for food.

[edit] Special Care

Young Spanish Hogfish act as cleaners and will pick at the fins and body of other fish in the aquarium. They tend to swim about in the water column and just over the substrate, occasionally cocking their head as they search for a meaty morsel.

[edit] Breeding/Propagation

Egg scatterers that produce pelagic eggs, often in midwater mating rituals. Both eggs and larvae that drift with plankton in the water column and settle back onto a reef at about the time of metamorphosis. These are among the most challenging types of marine fishes to propagate in captivity.

Category: Species