Porkfish, Atlantic Porkfish - Anisotremus virginicus

Welcome, please sign in

MY ACCOUNT |

MY CART

[ 0 ITEM ]

GIFT CERTIFICATES

Captive Bred & Tank Raised Fish

Angels-Dwarf

Angels-Large

Anglers & Frogfish

Anthias

Batfish

Basslets

Blennies

Boxfish

Butterflyfish

Cardinals

Clownfish

Damsels

Dartfish & Tilefish

Dragonets

Eels

Filefish

Goatfish

Gobies

Groupers & Hamlets

Grunts & Sweetlips

Hawkfish

Hogfish

Jawfish

Lionfish

Pseudochromis & Dottybacks

Pufferfish

Rabbitfish

Rays

Seahorses & Pipefish

Sharks

Snappers & Fusiliers

Squirrelfish

Tangs & Surgeonfish

Triggerfish

Wrasses

Wrasses-Reef Safe

Misc. Fish

You are here: Home » Fish » Grunts & Sweetlips » Porkfish

Porkfish

Scientific Name

Anisotremus virginicus

Reef Compatible

Care Level

Intermediate

Disposition

Peaceful

Min. Tank Size

50 gallons

Mature Size

16 inches

Diet

Carnivore

Range

Western Atlantic

Size Class

view chart

Other Common Names

Atlantic Porkfish, Canario, Catalineta, Mercador

General Description

The Atlantic porkfish is from the Family Haemulidae, and fishes from this family are commonly referred to by aquarists as grunts. They are called grunts because they make a “grunting” noise using their pharyngeal teeth and swim bladder (some sweetlips “grunt” as well). Grunts from the genus Anisotremus, like the Atlantic porkfish, are known as the smallmouth grunts, and the Atlantic porkfish does have a very small mouth. While its mouth may be small, the Atlantic porkfish can grow to 15 inches in length. The adult fish will need an aquarium of at least 175 gallons with plenty of swimming room.

Husbandry Concerns

The Atlantic porkfish inhabits rocky bottoms and reefs and so should be kept in an aquarium with plenty of live rock and a cave or two in which to retreat. This fish also appreciates plenty of swimming room, especially as it grows. While many grunts prefer to be kept with other members of their species, the Atlantic porkfish has been known to be aggressive toward conspecifics when the tank is too small. Do keep juveniles with other peaceful tankmates, as they can easily be bullied. If you plan to add an adult Atlantic porkfish to a community tank with aggressive fishes, add the porkfish toward the beginning of your stocking order.

DIet

In the wild, the Atlantic porkfish feeds mostly at night on a variety of bottom dwelling crustaceans and other small creatures (e.g. echinoderms and annelids). In the aquarium, it will also eat small invertebrates including ornamentals such as hermit crabs. Juveniles are facultative cleaners and will pick parasites off other fishes. Offer the Atlantic porkfish a varied diet including meaty bits of marine flesh (e.g. raw table shrimp, squid, scallops, etc.) and prepared foods (pellet and frozen) for carnivores.

Mark's Species Tip

Juveniles do not have the distinctive black bars or the yellow and blue stripes of the adult.