Cuban Hogfish

The Cuban hogfish is one of the most colorful wrasses of the Caribbean and the western Atlantic: a white stripe runs along the lower flank of its red body, the rear of the back and the tail are yellow, and there is a black spot at the base of the front spines of the dorsal fin. Juveniles clean parasites off the skin of other fish. In the wild it usually lives on coral and rocky reefs at depths of 15–25 meters and feeds on crabs and small shelled mollusks. Specimens are wild-collected; it is a hardy fish that takes to prepared food right away.

• At least 600 liters and 180 cm in length for an adult.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Plenty of rock crevices and a large swimming area; a lid is recommended.
• Not reef-safe: It usually leaves corals alone, but eats shrimp, crabs, snails, sea urchins and tube worms.

Carnivorous. Offer chopped mussels, shrimp and squid, frozen mysis, krill and marine fish granules; fed 1–2 times a day.

Peaceful when young, it becomes semi-aggressive as it grows. It may eat small fish that fit in its mouth; it usually gets along with fish of a similar size.

Good companions: Tangs, large angelfish, foxface, triggerfish, groupers, morays, large damsels.

Avoid: Shrimp, crabs and snails; small gobies, cardinalfish and chromis; other hogfish.