Striped Hogfish

The Striped Hogfish (Bodianus izuensis) is a semi-aggressive species that is reef-safe with caution, admired for its bold striping, vivid coloration, and active swimming behavior. This wrasse relative is hardy and striking, making it a popular choice among advanced reef aquarists.

Males typically display more vibrant coloration with stronger contrasting stripes, while females and juveniles tend to be smaller, with paler tones and less defined patterns.

They reach about 8–10 inches in adulthood and should be housed in aquariums of at least 125 gallons. Provide ample live rock with caves and hiding spots, a sandy substrate, and plenty of open swimming space, along with a secure lid since hogfish are known jumpers.

Maintain stable water parameters:

Salinity: 1.020–1.025

Temperature: 72–79°F

pH: 8.1–8.4

Diet should consist of meaty marine foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, copepods, and high-quality pellets. While they may pick at small invertebrates, a well-fed Striped Hogfish generally leaves larger corals alone. With proper care, this fish makes a dynamic and eye-catching addition to the aquarium, particularly in larger reef or fish-only-with-live-rock (FOWLR) setups.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment. On request, we also send photos/videos after arrival at IA. Some species are import-to-order (3-10 business days). Many common species are already cleared or near the end of QT.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3-10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin.