An elegant hawkfish with a long, slender snout and a white body crosshatched in red. Hardy and full of personality, it perches on rock and coral watching for prey, and is reef-safe with corals but a threat to small shrimp and other tiny invertebrates.
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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
Branchy reef perch
30 gal / 110 L reef with branching coral/rock
Oxycirrhites typus perches on gorgonians and branching corals scanning for prey. Provide elevated perches, a tight lid (they jump), and reef-safe tankmates — they eat ornamental shrimp.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Established branchy reef
55–75 gal / 200–280 L
More vertical structure (gorgonians, branching SPS, tall rockwork) lets the hawk hunt naturally. Feed varied meaty foods. Peaceful with most reef fish but harasses smaller bottom-dwellers.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Large SPS reef
90 gal+ / 340 L+ SPS reef
Large SPS reef with rich branching structure and varied perches. The hawkfish becomes a centrepiece sentry, displaying full red lattice colour under proper lighting.
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.
Photo coming soon
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.
Photo coming soon
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 longnose hawkfish can be kept in a 30-gallon (110 L) or larger reef system; a tank with plenty of branching live rock or gorgonians gives it the perches it favors. Lacking a swim bladder, hawkfish do not cruise the water column — instead they rest on the rockwork and dart out, so an aquascape with elevated perches and lookout points suits them. A secure, tight-fitting lid is important because they are capable 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 flow. They are undemanding once settled and adapt well to established reef parameters.
Substrate
Fine sand suits the display, though substrate matters little to this perch-dwelling fish. Aquascape with branching live rock, gorgonians, or large-polyp corals to provide the elevated lookout perches it prefers.
Equipment & setup
Standard reef filtration with a protein skimmer, a reliable heater, and moderate flow from one or two powerheads suits this fish well. Reef lighting is fine; the key hardware addition is a secure lid or mesh top, since hawkfish jump.
Diet
Longnose hawkfish are carnivores that ambush small prey from their perches. Feed a varied meaty diet of mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, krill, and other frozen marine fare one to two times daily. They readily learn to take prepared foods.
They have hearty appetites and will hunt small ornamental shrimp and crustaceans, so account for that when stocking. A varied diet maintains their red coloration and condition.
Behavior & temperament
Longnose hawkfish are bold, curious, and entertaining, perching prominently and watching the tank. They are reef-safe with corals and clams but not invertebrate-safe — they will eat small shrimp (including cleaner and sexy shrimp), tiny hermits, and small fish that fit in the mouth. They are best kept one per tank unless a confirmed male-female pair, as two can fight; they may also harass smaller, timid fish.
Avoid housing with bite-sized tankmates and with very aggressive fish that bully them. Provide ample perches and sightlines; their natural perch-and-ambush behavior is its own enrichment. They generally ignore corals entirely.
Health
Hawkfish are hardy and disease-resistant once established but can still contract marine ich (Cryptocaryon) and velvet, particularly when newly imported or stressed. The most common loss is jumping from an open tank, so a secure lid is essential.
They tolerate a range of conditions but still need stable parameters and good water quality. Quarantine new arrivals, acclimate slowly, and provide a covered tank with plenty of perches to keep them healthy and confident.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Fit a tight lid or mesh screen to prevent jumping. Avoid stocking prized cleaner or sexy shrimp, which this hawkfish will hunt, and quarantine new fish before adding them to the display. A single specimen, or a verified pair, prevents conspecific aggression.
