Splitlevel hogfish (Bodianus mesothorax)

Scientific name: Bodianus mesothorax Bloch & Schneider, 1801

The Splitlevel hogfish (Bodianus mesothorax) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 24–28°C (75–82°F). Native range: Indo-West Pacific, Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Splitlevel hogfish care at a glance

Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. Juveniles and adults resemble their counterparts of B. axillaris, but juveniles have yellow rather than white spots and adults have well-defined black band between the light and dark portions of the body and lack ocelli on the dorsal and anal fins. Color of juveniles changes completely to adult pattern when about 5-6 cm long. The change takes only a few weeks and intermediates are rarely seen.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Bodianus mesothorax
Family: Labridae (Wrasses)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 25.0
Depth range: 5–40 m (16–131 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 40 m, usually 5 - 20 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)