The porkfish is a member of the grunt family, which create a characteristic “grunting” sound by rubbing their pharyngeal teeth together during periods of agitation or courtship. Many species of grunts are popular in public aquariums because they’re abundantly available, and their schooling behavior and bright colors create interest in aquarium exhibits. Porkfish also have additional appeal to aquarists because they are “cleaner” fish during their juvenile phase, picking parasites from larger fish and other vertebrates. Scientists and aquarists have recently achieved a greater understanding of appropriate aquaculture protocols for grunts in general and porkfish in particular. These characteristics and advancements have led to porkfish being identified as a candidate species for commercial aquaculture. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Eric Cassiano and Kevin Barden, and published by the UF Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, October 2014. (Photo by George H. Burgess, Florida Museum of Natural History)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa187