Bodianus diana

Datasheet

General Description

The Red Diana Hogfish, scientifically known as Bodianus diana, belongs to the Labridae family. These hogfish are named for their characteristic behavior of searching for food in the substrate using their snout. They are hardy fish that require ample space for swimming and hiding, especially when kept with other aggressive species.

Aquarium Suitability

The Red Diana Hogfish is suitable for aquariums with caution. They can be aggressive towards other fish, particularly peaceful or docile species, and may pose a threat to certain invertebrates when fully grown. Providing regular feeding, sufficient hiding spots, and plenty of space in the tank can help mitigate their aggressive tendencies.

Demands, Care, and Hardiness

This species is hardy and can adapt to various fish foods over time. They thrive in aquariums with ample space to swim and hide, requiring good hiding places like live rocks. The Red Diana Hogfish has specific water condition requirements with a preferred temperature ranging from 22.2-25.6°C and a pH level between 8.1-8.4.

Reef Suitability

Reef compatibility for the Red Diana Hogfish is classified as reef safe with caution in a reef aquarium setup. Care should be taken when adding them to a reef tank due to their aggressive behavior towards smaller and more passive tank mates.

Aquarium Setup

When setting up an aquarium for the Red Diana Hogfish, it is essential to provide plenty of space for swimming and hiding spots within live rocks. Maintaining the appropriate water conditions, including a temperature of 22.2-25.6°C, a pH range of 8.1-8.4, and a specific gravity of 1.020-1.025, is crucial for their well-being.

Behaviour

The Red Diana Hogfish exhibits aggressive behavior towards other species, especially when kept with peace-loving or resemblance species. They are known to sift through sand for food, which can sometimes lead to cloudy water in the tank.

Feeding and Diet

This hogfish species sustains itself on a diet consisting of worms, small bivalves, and small crustaceans. In an aquarium environment, they will scavenge through sand for food, occasionally stirring up detritus. Providing them with a varied diet of small crustaceans, zooplankton, and other invertebrates is recommended for their nutritional needs.

Habitat and Distribution

The Red Diana Hogfish can be found in the East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and Indonesia. They thrive in areas with a variety of hiding spots among rocks and can often be seen following other fish that disturb the substrate, aiding their foraging behavior.