Splitlevel hogfish

The splitlevel hogfish is a colorful wrasse in the family Labridae, native to the tropical western Pacific. It has a distinctive two-toned appearance, with the front upper body deep purple-black and the rear and belly bright yellow-orange, a pattern that makes juveniles and adults easily recognizable. It is a semi-aggressive, active fish that hunts along rockwork and generally does best kept singly, as it can be territorial toward similar species. Smaller specimens are shy but grow bolder with age. A spacious aquarium with abundant live rock, crevices, and open swimming areas suits this hogfish. It is a carnivore that preys on small crustaceans, worms, and mollusks, so it may consume ornamental shrimp and small invertebrates and is not fully reef-safe. It readily takes mysis, chopped seafood, and other meaty frozen foods.