A small, brilliant scarlet hawkfish with black accents around the eyes and dorsal fin. Hardy and full of personality, it perches among coral branches and is reef-safe with corals but will hunt small shrimp and crustaceans.
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Hawkfish (Cirrhitidae) are characterful perching predators that lack a swim bladder and rest on rock and coral, darting out to ambush prey. Most are hardy and reef-safe with corals but will hunt small shrimp and bite-sized fish, and many are accomplished jumpers needing a covered tank.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Single reef tank
30 gal / 114 L reef
Neocirrhites armatus reaches 3.5 in. 30-gal reef minimum with mature live rock perches, peaceful tankmates large enough to be safe, and varied carnivore diet. Reef-cautious — eats small shrimp.
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Recommended
Reef-cautious display
55 gal / 208 L reef-cautious
55-gal reef-cautious display with branching live rock for perching, peaceful larger tankmates, and varied frozen meaty foods. Striking red colour and constant perching behaviour.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Mature display reef
75 gal+ / 284 L+ mature reef
Mature 75-gal+ display reef with branching corals/rock for perches, varied tankmates safe from predation, and stable established community. Long-lived in good systems.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Fish eggs are small, translucent spheres, often laid in clutches on plants, substrate, or in a nest — or carried/brooded by a parent in livebearing and mouth-brooding species. A dark eye spot and the curled embryo become visible inside as development progresses.
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Fry
Newly hatched fry are tiny and semi-transparent, frequently still carrying a yolk sac that fuels them before they feed freely. They lack full fin structure and adult coloration, staying near cover until they can swim and forage on their own.
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Juvenile
Juveniles look like miniature adults but with developing fins and muted or different markings; many species shift pattern and color as they mature. Growth is rapid at this stage given clean water and steady feeding.
Adult
Adults show the species' full size, finnage, and mature coloration, and are sexually mature. Many fish develop sex-specific differences in size, color, or fin shape, which can intensify during breeding.
Habitat & enclosure
A single flame hawkfish can be kept in a 30-gallon (110 L) or larger reef system, ideally one with branching SPS corals or live rock among which it loves to perch. Like other hawkfish it lacks a swim bladder and rests on the rockwork rather than swimming continuously, so an aquascape with plenty of perches and crevices suits it. A secure, tight-fitting lid is important because flame hawkfish are notorious jumpers.
Maintain stable tropical reef conditions: temperature 72-78 F (22-26 C), pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025 specific gravity, and moderate to strong flow that mimics the reef crests it inhabits. It is hardy and adapts well to established reef parameters.
Substrate
Fine sand suits the display, though substrate is largely irrelevant to this perch-dwelling fish. Aquascape with branching live rock and SPS corals to provide the perches and crevices it favors.
Equipment & setup
Standard reef filtration with a protein skimmer, a reliable heater, and moderate-to-strong flow from powerheads suit this reef-crest species. Reef lighting is fine; the essential addition is a secure lid, since flame hawkfish are strong jumpers.
Diet
Flame hawkfish are carnivores that ambush prey from their perches. Offer a varied meaty diet of mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, krill, and other frozen marine foods one to two times daily. They quickly learn to accept prepared foods and have healthy appetites.
They will hunt small ornamental shrimp and crustaceans, so stock accordingly. A varied diet keeps their intense red color and good body condition.
Behavior & temperament
Flame hawkfish are bold, inquisitive, and engaging, perching openly among corals and watching the tank. They are reef-safe with corals and clams but not fully invertebrate-safe, eating small shrimp (including cleaner and sexy shrimp), tiny hermits, and bite-sized fish. They are best kept one per tank unless a bonded pair, as two often fight, and they can be feisty toward smaller, timid tankmates despite their small size.
They particularly favor perching within branching SPS or live rock and will nestle into coral. Avoid housing with bite-sized invertebrates or fish; their perch-and-ambush behavior provides natural enrichment.
Health
Flame hawkfish are hardy and disease-resistant once established, but like all marine fish can contract ich (Cryptocaryon) and velvet, especially when newly imported or stressed. The leading cause of loss is jumping from an uncovered tank, so a secure lid or mesh top is essential.
They need stable parameters and good water quality but are otherwise undemanding. Quarantine new arrivals, acclimate slowly, and provide a covered tank with abundant perches to keep them thriving.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Fit a tight lid or mesh screen to stop jumping. Do not keep prized cleaner or sexy shrimp, which this hawkfish will eat, and quarantine new fish before adding them. Keep one specimen, or a confirmed pair, to avoid conspecific fighting.
