🐠 Lyretail Hogfish (Bodianus anthioides)
A White Body With Red Polka Dots Transitioning to an Orange-Red Rear • A Distinctive White Forked Lyre Tail • A Documented Juvenile Cleaner Fish
 
📋 The Lyretail Hogfish, also known as the Lyretail Pigfish, has a striking two-toned pattern, a white body with red polka dots at the front, transitioning to a reddish-orange posterior, and a distinctive white, forked "lyre" tail that gives the species its common name.
It comes from a wide range across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to the Tuamotu Islands, typically found along seaward reef edges, often below 25 metres. Every Lyretail Hogfish we ship is feeding well.
A charming natural behaviour: juveniles are documented cleaner fish, eating parasites off other fish, before transitioning to a more independent, meaty diet as they mature. This species forages by blowing jets of water into the sand to uncover worms, snails, and small crustaceans. It can be shy when first introduced, becoming bolder over time, and while peaceful as a juvenile, it becomes more semi-aggressive with maturity, best suited to similarly assertive tankmates. This species is not reef safe, and adults will eat invertebrates including worms, snails, small bivalves, and crustaceans. It's also a jumper, so a secure, tight-fitting lid matters. It reaches up to 24cm, so a 280L tank suits it well.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 White Body With Red Dots and Orange Tail: A striking, distinctive two-toned wrasse
🧼 Juvenile Cleaner Fish: Documented removing parasites from other fish when young
🏖️ Sand-Blowing Foraging: Blows water jets to uncover hidden prey
⚠️ Not Reef Safe: Adults will eat worms, snails, small bivalves, and crustaceans
⚠️ A Jumping Risk: A secure, tight-fitting lid is essential