ReefPicker
← Livestock checker
Coral Hogfish
Wrasse

Coral Hogfish

Bodianus mesothorax

Also called the Eclipse Hogfish for the bold black diagonal band splitting its purple front from a bright yellow rear, this is one of the most striking and hardy hogfish in the trade. Juveniles are dark with electric-blue spots and even pick parasites off tankmates like tiny cleaners. As it grows toward 20 cm its appetite turns to meat, so shrimp, snails, hermit crabs and other small inverts become fair game. Coral-safe but never invert-safe, and a capable jumper, so a covered tank of 340 L or more suits it best.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
7.9"
Min tank
90 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe with caution
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Rockwork, Mid-water
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
Symbiosis · Cleans other fish.
Something look wrong? Report an error

Tankmates

How Coral Hogfish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Coral Hogfish.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Coral Hogfish.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Coral Hogfish.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Coral Hogfish.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Coral Hogfish.Blue-Leg Hermit CrabCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Blue-Leg Hermit Crab is on the menu.Trochus SnailCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Trochus Snail is on the menu.Astrea SnailCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Astrea Snail is on the menu.Cerith SnailCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Cerith Snail is on the menu.Nassarius SnailCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nassarius Snail is on the menu.Nerite SnailCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nerite Snail is on the menu.Mexican Turbo SnailCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Mexican Turbo Snail is on the menu.Bumble Bee SnailCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Bumble Bee Snail is on the menu.Scarlet Reef Hermit CrabCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab is on the menu.Zebra Hermit CrabCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Zebra Hermit Crab is on the menu.Halloween Hermit CrabCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Halloween Hermit Crab is on the menu.Emerald CrabCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Emerald Crab is on the menu.Sally Lightfoot CrabCoral Hogfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Sally Lightfoot Crab is on the menu.Skunk Cleaner ShrimpCoral Hogfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Skunk Cleaner Shrimp is on the menu.Fire ShrimpCoral Hogfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Fire Shrimp is on the menu.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Helfrich's FirefishCoral Hogfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Yasha GobyCoral Hogfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yasha Goby and may harass it.Tailspot BlennyCoral Hogfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Tailspot Blenny and may harass it.Kole TangCoral Hogfish and Kole Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sixline WrasseCoral Hogfish and Sixline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Melanurus WrasseCoral Hogfish and Melanurus Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral HawkfishCoral Hogfish and Coral Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Springer's DottybackCoral Hogfish and Springer's Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple DottybackCoral Hogfish and Purple Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Midas BlennyCoral Hogfish and Midas Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellow Clown GobyCoral Hogfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Clown Goby and may harass it.Green Clown GobyCoral Hogfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Green Clown Goby and may harass it.Neon GobyCoral Hogfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Longnose HawkfishCoral Hogfish and Longnose Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Potter's AngelfishCoral Hogfish and Potter's Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor BlennyCoral Hogfish and Bicolor Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Coris WrasseCoral Hogfish and Red Coris Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Threadfin CardinalfishCoral Hogfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Threadfin Cardinalfish and may harass it.Flame HawkfishCoral Hogfish and Flame Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Saddleback ClownfishCoral Hogfish and Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.