Scientific Name: Bodianus diana Common Names: Diana’s Hogfish (Spotted Hogfish)
Care Level: Relatively Easy Adult Size: 9.8 in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Indo-West-Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Aggressive
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, Gobies, Surgeonfishes, Angels Diet: Meaty foods, including fresh or frozen seafoods, frozen or live brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, flake food, live grass shrimp. Tank Size For Adult: 55gal (208l) Narrative: Not recommended for Reef Aquariums. Will not bother corals but will eat a wide range of motile invertebrates. A hardy and greedy feeder, this is a solitary fish in nature and is one of the least sociable members of the genus, often behaving aggressively toward newly introduced fishes or more-docile tankmates. Adults may even nip persistently at juvenile morays. Will eat any smaller fish that can be ingested whole. Juveniles can be housed in a shallow- or deep-water reef aquarium, but they will begin to prey upon small bivalves, clams, worms and crustaceans as they grow.
Scientific Name: Bodianus rufus Common Names: Spanish hogfish
Care Level: Relatively Easy Adult Size: 15.7in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Tropical Western Atlantic Temperament/Behaviour: Moderately aggressive
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, Gobies, Surgeonfishes, Angels Diet: Meaty foods, including fresh or frozen seafoods, frozen or live brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, flake food, live grass shrimp. Tank Size For Adult: 180gal (681l) Narrative: Not recommended for the reef aquarium. Juveniles can be kept in the reef tank, but as they mature they will become a threat to crustaceans, worms, snails and clams. An attractive and rugged fish, this Caribbean Hogfish can be shy and retiring when first introduced to the aquarium, but within a day or two it will become bold and boisterous. Adolescent and adult individuals should not be kept with docile fish species, as they are likely to bully them. This is an active species that fits well with moderately aggressive tankmates; larger specimens require plenty of swimming room. Juveniles will often clean other fishes in captivity, although they are not as dependent as some of the obligatory cleaners on parasites or fish slime for survival.
Diet: Meaty foods, including fresh or frozen seafoods, frozen or live brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, small feeder fish.
Tank Size For Adult: 55gal (208l)
Narrative: Not recommended for the reef aquarium. Will not bother corals but will eat a wide range of motile invertebrates (e.g. snails, crabs, shrimps). This magnificent fish makes a wonderful addition to the aggressive community tank. Juveniles are less bold than more mature specimens and will spend time hiding until they gain size and competitive confidence. Adults, especially, may behave aggressively toward newly introduced fishes and docile tankmates. Specimens from the Great Barrier Reef tend to be more colourful.
Care Level: Relatively Easy Adult Size: 5.1in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Can be aggressive, especially towards other fairy wrasses and zooplankton feeders.
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, gobies, cardinalfish, clownfish. Diet: Meaty foods, including vitamin-enriched mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and high quality frozen preparations.
Tank Size For Adult: 55gal (208l) Narrative: Not recommended for the reef aquarium. Will not bother corals but will eat a wide range of motile invertebrates (e.g. snails, crabs, shrimps). This magnificent fish makes a wonderful addition to the aggressive community tank. Juveniles are less bold than more mature specimens and will spend time hiding until they gain size and competitive confidence. Adults, especially, may behave aggressively toward newly introduced fishes and docile tankmates. Specimens from the Great Barrier Reef tend to be more colourful.
Care Level: Relatively Easy Adult Size: 4.7in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Western Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Peaceful.
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, gobies, cardinalfish, clownfish. Diet: Meaty foods, including vitamin-enriched mysis shrimp or brine shrimp, and frozen preparations.
Tank Size For Adult: 55gal (208l) Narrative: excellent for the reef aquarium but prefers dim lighting. Large males of this species are very eye-catching, but often prove much more difficult to acclimate than the less-colourful females. Once adjusted, however, they are equally hardy. Provide with plenty of swimming space and do not place two males in the same tank, unless the tank is very large. This fish prefers a dimly lit aquarium, making it difficult to acclimate to a shallow-water reef tank. Females are olive and purplish overall, with two rows of red spots from the pectoral fin base to the caudal fin. Males are maroon overall, with a dark bar at the base of the pectoral fin, a bright yellow streak on the flank, and blue stripes on the dorsal and anal fins, which intensify during courtship.
Care Level: Relatively Easy Adult Size: 2.9in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Indian Ocean and Red Sea Temperament/Behaviour: Can be aggressive
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, gobies, cardinalfish, clownfish. Diet: Meaty foods, including vitamin-enriched mysis shrimp or brine shrimp, and high quality frozen preparations.
Tank Size For Adult: 30gal (114l) Narrative: Excellent for the reef aquarium. Known by its scarlet ventral and anal fins, this is a popular species among marine aquarists, and for good reason – it’s beautiful and reasonably hardy. It is a great reef fish that is not a threat to ornamental invertebrates. Specimens may become quite aggressive after living in a tank for a while, chasing and nipping other small wrasses, nonaggressive anthias and even tobies. To keep more than one specimen, choose one male and several females. However, it is possible to place two males in the same aquarium if the tank is spacious with ample hiding places. Will jump from open aquariums.
Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus scottorum Common Names: Scott’s Fairy Wrasse (Scotts Fairy, Scotts Velvet Wrasse, Australian Scotts Wrasse)
Care Level: Relatively Easy Adult Size: 5.1in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Western, South and Central Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Boisterous
Compatible Tank mates: Blennies, gobies, cardinalfish, clownfish. Diet: Meaty foods, including vitamin-enriched mysis shrimp or brine shrimp, and high quality frozen preparations.
Tank Size For Adult: 50gal (208l) Narrative: Excellent for the reef aquarium. Extraordinary colouration and hardiness make this a favourite among reef aquarists. Large males are most frequently available because they ship well and are in demand, but smaller specimens tend to acclimate more readily. Once acclimated, it will become less reclusive and can be quite boisterous, feeding greedily. Do not attempt to house two males together unless the tank is extremely large. Females should be introduced before, or at least at the same time as the male. Large males will behave aggressively toward other fairy wrasses introduced after them. Notorious for jumping from open aquariums.
Care Level: Moderate Adult Size: 21.7in pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3 Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026 Origin/Habitat: Indo-Pacific Temperament/Behaviour: Aggressive
Compatible Tank mates: Triggers, puffers, eels. Diet: Meaty foods, including fresh or frozen seafoods, frozen or live brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, flake food, live grass shrimp.
Tank Size For Adult: 180gal (681l) Narrative: Not recommended for the reef aquarium. An opportunistic predator that will eat snails, molluscs, hermit crabs, crabs, shrimps, and sea urchins. Larger individuals are adept at flipping over a wide range of corals and live rock. From cute, bright green little juveniles, this species transforms into formidable dark green, bulbous-headed adults that require plenty of swimming space and large tankmates that cannot be bullied or eaten. Tiny juveniles are difficult to keep because of their high caloric requirements, and individuals greater that 2in. are preferable. Coris spp. wrasses require a layer of fine sand 2-4 in deep in which to bury themselves at night.
A maximum length of 47.2inches has been reported, although few exceed 21.7in.
Common Names: Formosa Coris (Queen Coris, Indian Sand Wrasse)
Care Level: Moderate
Adult Size: 23.6 in
pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3
Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026
Origin/Habitat: Indian Ocean
Temperament/Behaviour: Moderately aggressive
Compatible Tank mates: Triggers, puffers, eels.
Diet: Meaty foods, including fresh or frozen seafoods, frozen or live brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, flake food, live grass shrimp.
Tank Size For Adult: 180 gal (681l)
Narrative: Not recommended for the reef aquarium. An opportunistic predator that will eat snails, molluscs, hermit crabs, crabs, shrimps, and sea urchins. Larger individuals are adept at flipping over a wide range of corals and live rock. This is an interesting fish that will thrive in the home aquarium, with spectacular transformations of colouration as it grows. Typically not aggressive toward other fishes, although larger individuals may harass smaller tankmates. Juveniles can be housed together, but may fight as they become larger. Large wild adults do not ship well, and tiny juveniles are difficult to feed; sub adult individuals greater than 2.0in are preferable. Provide a layer of fine sand 2-4 inches deep where they can bury at night.
Common Names: Yellowtail Coris (Red Coris, Gaimard’s Wrasse)
Care Level: Moderate
Adult Size: 13.7in
pH Range: 8.1 – 8.3
Temperature Range: (F/C) 77-79F/25-26C
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.023-1.026
Origin/Habitat: Indo-Pacific
Temperament/Behaviour: Moderately aggressive
Compatible Tank mates: Triggers, puffers, eels.
Diet: Meaty foods, including fresh or frozen seafoods, frozen or live brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, flake food, live grass shrimp.
Tank Size For Adult: 100gal (379l)
Narrative: Not recommended for the reef aquarium. An opportunistic predator that will eat snails, molluscs, hermit crabs, crabs, shrimps, and sea urchins. Larger individuals may rearrange aquascaping. May eat pyramidellid snails (which are parasites of tridacnid clams). Flashy juveniles morph into eye-catching adults in this aquarium-hardy species. They are typically not aggressive toward other fishes, although larger individuals may harass smaller tankmates. Tiny juveniles are difficult to keep because of their hig caloric requirements, and sub adult individuals greater than 2.0 inches are preferable. Coris spp. wrasses require a layer of fine sand 2-4 inches deep in which to bury themselves at night. Large adults should be provided plenty of swimming space.
