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Spanish Hogfish
Wrasse

Spanish Hogfish

Bodianus rufus

A Caribbean classic, the Spanish Hogfish wears a deep blue-to-violet upper body over a rich golden-yellow underside, and as a juvenile it earns its keep picking parasites off larger fish. It is hardy and long-lived, but it does not stay small — FishBase lists it to 40 cm — and with size comes a serious predatory streak. Adults crunch through brittle stars, urchins, crabs, snails and shrimp, making it strictly a fish-only or big-tank resident. Give it space, a heavy meaty diet and no prized inverts.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
15.7"
Min tank
151 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe with caution
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Mid-water, Rockwork
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
Symbiosis · Cleans other fish.
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Tankmates

How Spanish 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.

Percula ClownfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Percula Clownfish.Maroon ClownfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Maroon Clownfish.Purple Queen AnthiasSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Queen Anthias.Banggai CardinalfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Banggai Cardinalfish.Radiant WrasseSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Pajama CardinalfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Pajama Cardinalfish.Green ChromisSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Green Chromis.Blue DamselSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blue Damsel.Yellowtail DamselSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellowtail Damsel.Flame AngelfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Flame Angelfish.Coral Beauty AngelfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Coral Beauty Angelfish.Lemonpeel AngelfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Lemonpeel Angelfish.Bicolor AngelfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Bicolor Angelfish.Red Saddleback ClownfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Red Saddleback Clownfish.Helfrich's FirefishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Red Sea ClownfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Red Sea Clownfish.Yasha GobySpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yasha Goby.Tailspot BlennySpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Tailspot Blenny.Kole TangSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Kole Tang.McCosker's Flasher WrasseSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller McCosker's Flasher Wrasse.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Yellow TangSpanish Hogfish and Yellow Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sailfin TangSpanish Hogfish and Sailfin Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple TangSpanish Hogfish and Purple Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Powder Blue TangSpanish Hogfish and Powder Blue Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Convict TangSpanish Hogfish and Convict Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Achilles TangSpanish Hogfish and Achilles Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Naso TangSpanish Hogfish and Naso Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Scopas TangSpanish Hogfish and Scopas Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Antennata LionfishSpanish Hogfish and Antennata Lionfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Mimic TangSpanish Hogfish and Mimic Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Powder Brown TangSpanish Hogfish and Powder Brown Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Square AnthiasSpanish Hogfish and Square Anthias both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Volitans LionfishSpanish Hogfish and Volitans Lionfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Zebra Dwarf LionfishSpanish Hogfish and Zebra Dwarf Lionfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Blue-Throat TriggerfishSpanish Hogfish and Blue-Throat Triggerfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Crosshatch TriggerfishSpanish Hogfish and Crosshatch Triggerfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Niger TriggerfishSpanish Hogfish and Niger Triggerfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Dogface PufferSpanish Hogfish and Dogface Puffer both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Porcupine PufferSpanish Hogfish and Porcupine Puffer both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Double Saddle ButterflyfishSpanish Hogfish and Double Saddle Butterflyfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.
Spanish Hogfish — reef fish care & tankmates · ReefPicker