| Care Level | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | With Caution |
| Functional Benefit | Parasite Control |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 70 gallons |
| Max Size | 8 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
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| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 4.25 - 6.25" - Indo-Pacific |
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
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Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
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Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
The Eclipse Hogfish (Bodianus mesothorax) is a bold hogfish wrasse that can display cleaning behavior with tankmates, making it a unique choice for larger marine setups. Juveniles show a burgundy base color with yellow spotting, while adults shift into a two-tone pattern with a dark diagonal band separating the darker head from the lighter rear body.
What You’ll Observe:
- Active cruising along rockwork with frequent pauses to inspect crevices
- Confident “front of the tank” behavior at feeding time
- A noticeable juvenile-to-adult color transition as it matures
- Occasional close passes around other fish that resemble brief cleaning visits
Build success by providing sturdy rockwork with open swim lanes and several tight retreat spots. Offer a varied menu of meaty frozen foods plus quality pellets to keep feeding consistent, and plan tankmates around similarly sized, confident fish so activity stays steady.
Will the juvenile colors stay, or does it change as it grows?
It typically transitions from the spotted juvenile look to the bold, banded adult pattern as it matures, and the shift can be fairly noticeable over a short period.
Does an Eclipse Hogfish actually “clean” other fish in aquariums?
Some individuals will show cleaning-style behavior at times, but most owners treat it as a bonus behavior rather than something to rely on as a main function.
Why does it wedge itself into rockwork or lie on the bottom at night?
Many wrasses settle into a protected spot to rest; a snug cave or crevice in the rockwork helps it keep a consistent routine.
Can it be kept with other wrasses or another hogfish?
It’s usually simplest as a single specimen; if mixing with other wrasses, keep the group size and personalities balanced so the tank’s activity stays even.
What’s the easiest way to get it onto prepared foods quickly?
Start with familiar frozen foods (like mysis or chopped seafood) and then blend in small amounts of pellet or other prepared options once it is eating with confidence.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
