Blackspot Hogfish

Blackspot Hogfish

The Blackspot Hogfish (Bodianus opercularis), also known as the candystripe hogfish, is a small, beautifully marked wrasse banded in red and white with a distinctive dark blotch on the gill cover and at the rear of the dorsal fin. A deeper-water species that stays relatively small for a hogfish, it is an active, hardy and attractive choice for fish-focused marine aquariums.

Like all hogfish it is a confident, inquisitive predator, so its tankmates and invertebrates need to be chosen with its appetite in mind.

Natural Habitat & Origin

Bodianus opercularis occurs in the Indian Ocean — from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba south to Madagascar and Mauritius, and east to Christmas Island. It favours deeper reef slopes and drop-offs, often in shaded areas and near caves, where it hunts over rock and rubble.

In the aquarium it appreciates substantial live rock with caves and overhangs to patrol and shelter in, along with open water to cruise.

Care Requirements

Maintain stable marine conditions: salinity around 1.024–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, and a temperature of about 24–26°C (75–79°F). Reaching about 18 cm (7 inches), it is best given a roomy tank of around 280 litres (about 75 US gallons) or more. Coming from deeper water, it often settles best with subdued lighting during acclimation. A secure lid is sensible, as active wrasses can jump.

It is a hardy, adaptable fish once acclimated, accepting prepared foods readily.

Diet & Feeding

The Blackspot Hogfish is a carnivore that, in the wild, feeds on small benthic invertebrates — crustaceans, molluscs and similar prey. In the aquarium it eagerly accepts meaty foods: frozen mysis and enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and quality marine pellets. Feed once or twice a day; it is an enthusiastic feeder that quickly learns to beg at the front of the tank.

Behavior & Temperament

This is a semi-aggressive, active fish that is generally peaceful toward similarly sized tankmates but can harass smaller or more timid fish, especially as it grows. It is best kept singly and added to a community of robust fish. It spends its day cruising the rockwork in search of food.

Tank Mates

Pair it with other robust marine fish — tangs, larger wrasses, angelfish and similar — that can hold their own. Avoid very small, timid fish. With regard to the reef, it is coral-safe but not invertebrate-safe: it will hunt and eat ornamental shrimp, small crabs, snails and bristleworms, so keep it only in reefs without prized mobile invertebrates.

Breeding

Bodianus opercularis is a protogynous hermaphrodite, as is typical for the genus, but it is a pelagic spawner not bred in the home aquarium. Trade specimens are wild-collected.

Common Health Issues

The Blackspot Hogfish is hardy but, like all marine fish, can be affected by marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) and marine velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum), particularly when stressed. Quarantine new arrivals, keep water quality stable, and secure the lid against jumping. Given a roomy tank, robust tankmates and a meaty diet, it is a dependable and characterful wrasse for an intermediate marine keeper.