We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Aquatic

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Different Types of Hogfish?

By Marisa O'Connor
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 11,881
Share

There are many different types of hogfish in the wild and available for a home or commercial aquarium. They tend to congregate in reefs, and many of the hogfish eat parasites from other fish when they are juveniles. Some common types of hogfish include the candy, masuda, and coral hogfish.

The candy hogfish is one of the most peaceful of this species of fish. This type is also commonly known as the twospot hogfish, because it has the species' signature spot on its tale, as well as an additional spot behind its eye. Though this fish is usually peaceful, it can become territorial and fight with fish of the same species. It is a carnivorous fish belonging to the Labridae family and can be found in the oceans of Papua New Guinea and Japan. This fish is ideal for a home aquarium, holding at least 30 gallons of salt water, and grows a maximum of 4 inches (10.6 cm).

The masuda hogfish is another small, peaceful type of hogfish. This is a vibrant, colorful fish nicknamed the peppermint hogfish for its red and white horizontal stripes. This fish is great for aquariums of 20 gallons or more with plenty of hiding spaces for the fish to retreat, but can be a bit tedious to care for, as it requires multiple feedings per day. It will eat shrimp, black worms, and other small sea creatures, so it should be kept in a fish-only tank.

One of the largest species of hogfish is the spotfin, or bodianus pulchellus, growing up to 11.22 inches (28.5 cm). This fish likes to swim around tropical reefs and can be found near South Carolina, Bermuda, and Brazil. It is a very colorful species, with a red body and white stripe running along the lower side of the body. This is a great beginner fish for an aquarium holding at least 75 gallons of salt water. The spotfin feeds on crabs and small shellfish, and juveniles of this species clean parasites from other fish.

The coral hogfish is another one of the larger fish of this species, growing up to 7 inches (17.8 cm). This is a beautiful and colorful reef fish with a burgundy head and a rosy-yellow body separated by a black stripe. This is another good fish for at least a 75-gallon reef tank, though as the fish grows, it will begin to eat any small fish, snails, and other smaller creatures in the tank. It is not recommended to keep more than one coral hogfish in an aquarium, as they will become aggressive with others.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-different-types-of-hogfish.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.