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Falco Hawkfish

Dwarf Hawkfish

Family: CirrhitidaeCirrhitichthys falcoPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Falco Hawkfish or Dwarf Hawkfish is one of the most commonly seen of the hawkfish. They are a very interesting fish to watch and have very intricate and colorful markings. Although hard to see in the photo, they have bright yellow tufts (typical of hawkfish) on the dorsal fin rays.

   This is a fish that doesn't get real big, only up to 2.5 inches (6 cm). The Falco Hawkfish or Dwarf Hawkfish are readily available and easy to keep.

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

Maintenance difficulty:    The Falco Hawkfish or Dwarf Hawkfish is easy to keep. Hawkfish are among the hardiest of all marine fish.

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. We generally feed freeze dried krill, squid, shrimp (the same kind people eat), mussels, and all kinds of chopped up fish.

Habitat: Natural geographic location:     Falco Hawkfish or Dwarf Hawkfish are found in the western Pacific, from the Philippines to Japan, Samoa, the Barrier Reef, and New Caldonia. They inhabit shallow coastal to outer reef flats and slopes at depths up to 45 meters.

Foods:    All kinds of meaty foods from small fish and invertebrates; crustaceans.

Social Behaviors:     Found singly on the reef with one male presiding over a territory that will include 2 to 7 females.

Sex: Sexual differences:    The male is usually larger.

Breeding/Reproduction:   Indications are that it is haremic and spawns nightly. Occasionally in pairs. Typical Hawkfish courtship and spawning behavior is seen. See general breeding behavior for Hawkfish in the Breeding Marine Fish page.

Light: Recommended light levels:    No special requirements.

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

Length/Diameter of fish:    Falco Hawkfish or Dwarf Hawkfish adults can grow to 6.0 cm (2.5 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:    A minimum 20 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.

Author: David Brough. CFS.

• Cirrhitichthys falco : $24.99

Dwarf Hawkfish Cirrhitichthys Falco Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $24.99

Lastest Comments on Falco Hawkfish View all 16 comments on Falco Hawkfish Add Your Comment

Jeremy - 2010-11-27 AHHHH, YES.........the falco hawkfish is very beautiful and smart. Couldn't wait to get one and we named her lola. All was well in the the tank until we added blue leg hermits, a mandarin dragonet, and a mat of green star polyps. Well the "cute little hawk" became a killer when her Grouper instincts kicked in, she ate the hermits, terrorized the dragonet and started to rip the polpys out of the coral mat. Cute little lola, aka little grouper.(predator) Reply

Casey - 2010-06-26 Just bought a star fish and shrimp ... dead within a day from the Falco Hawk ... my other fish are missing chunks out of there fine also ... they're really neat to watch, but I do not recommend if you want invertebrates. Cindy - 2010-11-13 My Falco is very picky on who is in the tank with her. She becomes very aggressive on some fish and leaves others alone. I have had her for 8 years now and is now the only one left. I am afraid to get any more fish because I don't know who will last and who won't. Reply

Lauren - 2010-06-07 I just bought a hawkfish and he's doing great with all my other fish. I haven't seen any aggressive behavior from him or my other fish. I think it all depends on the fish, some are naturally killers while others are calm and cool. Reply

F - 2010-06-01 Ellen, I disagree. I have had my hawkfish for over a year and a half with a clownfish and a lawnmower blenny, and the 3 of them could not be happier! He is very content with other fish! You could not keep a tank full of hawkfish, because unless they are in a mated pair or harem, they will attack each other. Reply

jacob - 2010-03-22 My falcos was mean only to new arrivals and was mean to all shrimp before he figured out they could clean him off and served a purpose to him other than lunch. Reply

Matt - 2010-02-19 I was going to get one tomorrow....NOT now. Ii've got a Bi-Color angel, a Scopas tang, a powder Blue tang, 3 Firefish, a Percula, a Purple& yellow Dottieback, a banded Coral shrimp, 5 or 10 little bitty Hermit crabs, and a handful of Turbo snails, all in a 135. Thanks everybody, It would be really crappy if that fish upset my happy tank. Reply

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