Splitlevel Hogfish (Bodianus mesothorax)

Splitlevel Hogfish Bodianus mesothorax
Name	Splitlevel Hogfish
Name Lat.	Bodianus mesothorax
Family	Wrasses
Family lat.	Labridae
Order	Wrasses & Relatives
Order lat.	Labriformes
Origin	Indo-Pacific
Habitat	Coral reefs
Diet	Carnivore
pH	8,1-8,4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	♂ territorial
Keeping	Individual, group
Reef Compatible	With caution
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	5-8 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	20 cm
Temperature	22-27 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 650 l
US Units
Size	8"
Temperature	72-81 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 170 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of Bodianus mesothorax is the western Indian and Pacific Oceans, from Christmas Island to Indonesia, Japan, Australia and Palau. They live on reefs with dense coral growth, juveniles prefer caves and crevices.

Maintenance

They are keen swimmers and require a well-structured aquarium with plenty of swimming space, a reef structure (hiding and retreat possibilities) with live stones, which act like a biological filter, as well as sand areas, made of fine sand at least 10 cm deep (no coral rubble!). Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free sands, gravels or stones may be used.

Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must be appropriate for the species' day-night rhythm

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l	nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.

Diet

Juveniles act as cleaner fish and eat parasites, adults feed mainly on snails, worms, mussels and small fish. The food change usually succeeds without problems. The food supply should consist of a combination of mysis, krill, artemia, smelt, shrimp, mussel and crab meat, or a commercially available vitamin-enriched frozen food mix. High-quality flake and granulated food is also often accepted after a period of acclimation

It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day. This reduces intra-species aggression and protects lower animals in the aquarium. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They usually live in a group consisting of females and juveniles, dominated by one male. Males are very territorial within the species. Accordingly, only one male should be kept singly, or with one or more females. They are often aggressive towards smaller fish.

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that most males develop from functional females when needed, and are referred to as "secondary males." External distinguishing characteristics are not known.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium

Important

Their color dress varies greatly depending on age

As reef dwellers, they should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium. With sufficient and varied feeding, which also reduces aggressiveness, they can be kept well with invertebrates (corals), only tubeworms, snails, crabs etc. should be kept with caution.

When threatened, they sometimes bury themselves in the sandy substrate

If different species are kept together, make sure that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements as well as their social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. Newly introduced fish must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: KUITER & DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF