Diana's Hogfish (Bodianus diana)

Diana's Hogfish (Bodianus diana), also known in the trade as the Red Diana Hogfish, is a bold marine wrasse relative for aquarists who want colour, movement and real personality rather than a quiet background fish. This is a strong, active species with a red-orange body, pale spotting and dark fin markings, so it suits a confident marine keeper building a spacious, mature aquarium around robust tank mates.

This listing is for SKU MZ40 from our Petra Aqua marine fish range. It is best planned as a long-term hogfish, not a tiny community wrasse. Juveniles can look manageable in a dealer tank, but Bodianus diana is an assertive predator of small crustaceans and other meaty foods, and it needs room to patrol rockwork without being crowded by similar wrasses or timid fish.

Quick facts

Aquarium setup

Diana's Hogfish should go into a settled marine system, not a new tank. Give it a layout with firm live rock, caves, shaded breaks in the structure and clear swimming lanes at the front. It spends much of its time working through the middle and lower areas of the aquarium, so the aquascape needs to leave room for movement rather than filling every gap with rock.

A sand bed can be useful for a more natural marine layout, but the important points are stability, oxygenation and territory. Use a properly cycled system with strong biological filtration, regular maintenance and steady salinity. Avoid unstable nano tanks, cramped holding systems, or aquariums where the fish would constantly meet its own reflection or be forced into one small corner of the rockwork.

Behaviour and compatibility

This is a character fish with a confident feeding response. It is best kept with other robust marine fish that can hold their own without being outright bullies. Suitable companions may include established tangs, larger clownfish, dwarf angels, rabbitfish, larger damsels and other sturdy community fish chosen for a similar marine environment.

Do not choose this species for a peaceful shrimp reef or a tank built around tiny, shy fish. Diana's Hogfish may harass slender wrasses, small gobies, firefish and very passive tank mates, and it may eat or damage ornamental crustaceans and worms. If you already keep another hogfish or similarly shaped wrasse, add with caution and only in a large aquarium with enough visual breaks.

Feeding

Feed a varied carnivorous diet. Good options include mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, chopped clam, mussel, krill, squid, marine carnivore blends and quality sinking pellets or soft granules once accepted. Smaller regular feeds are better than one heavy meal, especially while the fish is settling after delivery.

Watch body condition and appetite closely during the first week. A healthy hogfish should investigate food quickly, but a new arrival may need lower lighting and a calm tank before it feeds strongly. Remove uneaten food so water quality stays high; this species is active and meaty feeding can add waste if the routine is too heavy.

Health and acclimation

Prepare the aquarium before arrival: lights dimmed, pumps running normally, salinity matched as closely as possible, and no aggressive rearranging on the day the fish arrives. Float the bag to equalise temperature, then acclimate steadily and avoid chasing the fish around the tank. Keep the first evening quiet and do not overfeed immediately.

Check breathing, posture, colour and feeding response over the first few days. Some hiding after introduction is normal, but repeated chasing, refusal to settle, torn fins or rapid breathing should be taken seriously. Because this is an assertive marine fish, compatibility problems are easier to prevent than fix after territories are established.

Why buy from Tropical Fish Co?

We connect the listing, SKU, supplier source and care notes so you can make a more confident decision before ordering. Livestock orders are packed carefully for the weather and sent by UK live-animal courier, with our Live Arrival Guarantee protecting eligible deliveries. First-time customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off, where the code is available at checkout.

If you are unsure whether this hogfish suits your aquarium, compare your tank volume, current fish list and invertebrates before buying. The right home for Diana's Hogfish is a mature, well-filtered marine aquarium with space, rockwork and tank mates chosen around its adult confidence.