Animal-World > Marine - Saltwater Fish > Hawkfishes > Longnose Hawkfish

Longnose Hawkfish

Family: Cirrhitidae

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Oxycirrhites typus Photo © Animal-World. Courtesy Greg Rothschild

   The Longnose Hawkfish is one of the most popular of the hawkfish. They are a very interesting fish to watch and have very intricate and colorful markings. They have tufts (typical of hawkfish) on the dorsal fin rays and the nostrils.

   They are very hardy and disease resistant. Longnose Hawkfish are well suited to both marine aquariums and reefs. They will not bother corals in a reef, but will eat smaller ornamental shrimp and smaller hermit crabs.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Maintenance:
   The hawkfish are carnivores. They do well on a diet which includes all kinds of live, frozen, and flake foods. Best to feed small amounts several times a day. Brine shrimp, live or frozen is a basic staple of

Habitat: Natural geographic location:
    Longnose Hawkfish are found in the Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to northern Colombia and the Galapagos Islands . They swim at depths of 10 to 20 meters (33 - 60 ft). They inhabit steep outer reef slopes exposed to strong currents where they live in large gorgonians and black corals. Feeds on small benthic or planktonic crustaceans. Uncommon to rare in most areas,

Foods:
   All kinds of meaty foods from small fish and invertebrates; crustaceans. The hawkfish are carnivores and do well on a diet which includes all kinds of live, frozen, and flake foods. We generally feed freeze dried krill, squid, shrimp (the same kind people eat), mussels, and all kinds of chopped up fish.

Social Behaviors:
   Found singly on the reef with one male presiding over a territory that will include 2 to 7 females. In the ocean they are often seen perching on black corals or gorgonians. Pelagic spawning has been observed for this species from field observations. They are strongly territorial.

Sex: Sexual differences:
   The male is usually larger. It is thought that the male has an extra black edge on the ventral and tail fins.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   This is the only Hawkfish that has been reported to spawn in captivity. The female (in contrast to other Hawkfish) lays adhesive eggs. See general breeding behavior for Hawkfish in the Breeding Marine Fish page.

Longnose Hawkfish

Light: Recommended light levels:
   No special requirements.

Temperature:
    Hawkfish should be kept at temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Length/Diameter of fish:
   Longnose Hawkfish adults can grow to 10.0 cm (4 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:
   A minimum 25 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
   No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
   Usually spends most of its' time on coral outcroppings near the bottom.

Availability:
   This fish is readily available and is inexpensive.

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Latest Comments
this fish looks really cool, "caution" was eating live shrimp when I bought him and would not except frozen brine thereafter. also my pseudochromis chased him considerably upon his arrival and I feared that he would soon jump out of my tank but all is well now. paul 2007-02-02
Very dominating of smaller fish in the tank and will attack invertebrates, it took a good chunk out of my starfish. It is a shame though as it is a beautiful fish to watch. Liz 2006-06-18
Only had mine a few weeks but has settled in amazingly well and feeds from your hand. Extremely friendly and amusing when perching on turbo snails at the front of the tank eyeing up potential prey. Adam 2005-11-23

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Author: David Brough. CFS.