Spanish Hogfish (Bodianus Rufus)

The Spanish Hogfish (Bodianus rufus) is an active and striking marine wrasse featuring a vivid purple-blue upper body transitioning into a bright yellow-orange lower section. Native to the Western Atlantic Ocean, this hardy species reaches lengths between 25 and 40 cm, making it a prominent addition to spacious fish-only marine aquariums.

Due to its assertive temperament and active foraging habits, it thrives best in an aquarium of at least 568 to 757 liters equipped with stable rockwork and a sandy substrate. As a natural carnivore that actively hunts invertebrates, it should be housed alongside other large, robust tankmates.

Key Features

Highlights

• Scientific Name: Bodianus rufus
• Primary Common Name: Spanish Hogfish
• Other Common Names: Hog Snapper, Dogfish, Hogfish
• Origin: Western Atlantic Ocean (Bermuda, Florida, Caribbean)
• Max Size: 10-16 inches (25-40 cm)
• Temperament: Aggressive / Predatory
• Diet: Carnivore (Crustaceans, mollusks, worms)
• Minimum Tank Size: 150-200 Gallons
• Reef Compatibility: No (Will eat all ornamental invertebrates)

Materials & care

• Diet: The Spanish Hogfish is a dedicated carnivore. Its natural diet includes hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, snails, mussels, brittle stars, sea urchins, worms, and various crustaceans, which it excavates from the substrate using its pointed snout. In captivity, it requires a diverse, protein-rich diet of frozen meaty foods, including mysis shrimp, krill, silversides, squid, and clams. Juveniles may accept pellet or flake food, but this should only supplement a varied frozen diet.
• Feeding: Feed adults once daily, ensuring tankmates are robust enough to compete for food.
• Reef Compatibility: Not reef safe. While the juvenile form often acts as a cleaner fish, the adult is a highly destructive predator that will systematically hunt and consume virtually all ornamental invertebrates, including shrimp, crabs, snails, and clams. They may also disrupt corals or live rock while foraging.
• Temperament: Aggressive / Semi-Aggressive. It should be housed with other large, assertive, and durable tankmates such as large tangs, groupers, aggressive angels, and triggerfish. It will bully or consume smaller, docile fish. It is best kept as the only hogfish in the tank unless housed in a large group in a massive aquarium.
• Special Notes: Like many wrasses, the Spanish Hogfish is a protogynous hermaphrodite, starting life as a female and having the ability to change sex to male. It is a diurnal fish and will often bury itself in the sand at night or when frightened.

Compatibility

Compatible with large, assertive marine species such as large tangs, triggerfish, aggressive angelfish, and groupers. Not compatible with small, docile fish or ornamental invertebrates like shrimp, crabs, and snails.

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