Hogfish

An ideal aquarium inhabitant, the hogfish is a pleasure to keep and maintain for any aquarist. In the case of the hogfish, familiarity very clearly does not lead to contempt. Puzzled? What that means is that they must be introduced to fellow hogfish in the aquarium right from the beginning. They can be territorial against other hogfish and it is therefore important to introduce all hogfish that you want to keep in your aquarium at the same time.

Environment: Hogfish are a part of the Labridae family and can be found in oceans around the world. Hogfish are found among the coral reefs in tropical areas throughout the world where they prey on fishes, crustaceans, mollusks and other invertebrates. Some species provide "grooming" services when young, acting as cleaner fish by removing parasites and dead skin off of larger fishes. Hogfishes range in size from 4 inches to over 2 feet in length, with the most commonly available types reaching around 9 inches in length.

Appearance: You may be disappointed with their humdrum appearance, long noses and large lips, but several species are beautifully colored and make for hardy aquarium subjects. Juveniles sport different colors and patterns from the adults so you will get to see your hogfish go through a dramatic transformation as they grow older.Hogfish are hermaphrodites, first maturing into females and later changing into males. It is hard to differentiate between the sexes and very difficult to breed them in captivity.

Food: Adult hogfish can often eat shrimps that are introduced to "their" aquarium after they grew up. They do however seldom touch shrimps that they grown up with. Hogfish feed on small fish, shellfish, and crustaceans, and make very hardy aquarium dwellers that adapt well to captivity. Hogfish should be fed a varied diet of fresh and prepared meaty foods such as fish, shrimp, squid, clams, etc.

Aquarium Care: Provide Hogfish with a well-sealed lid, ample hiding places, and plenty of swimming room. Hogfish require a very large aquarium with lots of rockwork and several caves for hiding. Although they are quite hardy and can tolerate less than optimum water quality, an efficient filtration system along with frequent water changes is required to deal with the large amounts of food consumed and waste produced. They can be housed with other large fish but it is best to keep only one Hogfish per tank to prevent fighting. They should not be kept with small fishes, crustaceans, or shellfish-these will be quickly devoured by the Hogfish. Many hogfish species makes good aquarium fishes that can be kept in reef aquariums. They are suitable for community aquariums and suitable companions include rabbitfish, parrotfish, sweetlips, puffers, hawkfish, tangs and surgeons. Make sure that you choose companions of suitable size for your hogfish. Most hogfish species can be kept with live corals without any problem.