Hawkfish
Attractive and relatively small, Hawkfish make excellent additions to fish only or FOWLR aquariums. With extreme caution taken, they could be kept in reef aquariums, but because of their propensity to eat small ornamental shrimps and other mobile invertebrates (usually leaving sessile invertebrates alone) they are not considered reef safe. Lacking a swim bladder, Hawkfish can often be found resting in crevices of rocks or among the branches of corals or gregonians. Hawkfish are easy to care for and not picky at all about water quality. A varied diet, including spirulina and small meaty foods like Mysis is recommended.
Like most Hawks, the Arc Eye Hawk Fish is a hardy fish and a wonderful choice for many aquarists, at both beginning and advanced levels of experience. These fish have an appearance unique among members of the Hawk family.
Because it does not have a swim bladder, the Arc Eye Hawk Fish spends much of its time perched on coral or rock in shallower reef flats, although some have been noted at depths of 300 meters. It waits, apparently motionless, until some stimulus causes it to dart quickly toward food or a better vantage point, or away from danger. In captivity, most Arc Eye Hawks are quite hardy. They eat readily, and if you are considering purchasing a specimen, you should not bring it home if it is not eating. In the wild, Arc Eye Hawks are carnivorous, and are opportunistic feeders. Although they generally do well in community tanks, they may eat smaller fish or crustaceans. In a reef system, some individuals may nip at anemones as well. Arc Eye Hawks are generally considered to be reef safe, if they are kept with caution. Some individuals might be too destructive in such an environment, though, in reefs with larger inhabitants, they might be appropriate. Most Arc Eye Hawks are said to quickly recognize their keepers, often waiting at the surface for food upon a human's approach.
At maturity, most Arc Eye Hawks are five inches (13 centimeters) long. Most are some shade of brown, pinkish, or a flesh colored shade. Many Arc Eye Hawks have a horizontal white blaze running through their bodies, though some lack this accent. All Arc Eye Hawks have a U shaped arc just behind each eye. This is yellow or orange in color, and may be outlined in blue or light purple. The underside of the head is often adorned with several lighter purple, or blue, and orange-yellow splotches. Arc Eye Hawks are native to the Indo Pacific. However, many specimens are collected from the Indian Ocean.
CIRRHITIDAE (Hawkfishes) Whitish or pink body, with squarish red to brown spots. Adults grow to 8 cm (about 3 inches) in length. The coral hawkfish is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific. It also occurs in the tropical eastern Pacific where it ranges from the Gulf of California to Ecuador including the Galapagos Islands. It is usually associated with coral heads at from near the surface to depths of about 15 meters (45 feet).
The hawkfish is an ambush predator. It is always alert, remaining motionless for long intervals as it waits for prey — mainly small crustaceans and small fishes. Its modified pectoral fins have stout free pectoral rays adapted for perching. At night it hides deep in the coral branches for protection.
The dwarf hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys falco, is a hawkfish of the family Cirrhitidae found across the Indo West Pacific oceans. The spotted hawkfish can reach a maximum length of 7cm. They are red-pink and white in color and they have tassles on the tip of their dorsal fins. They inhabite tropical reefs and they feed on very small fish and benthic invertebrates.
This fish's vibrant red color, personable nature, and small size makes it a highly sought after specimen by aquarists. However, like most Hawkfishes, it is predatory bottom-dweller. It likes to sit on top of rocks or corals to keep watch, ready to pounce on any unsuspecting prey that swims too close.
In a reef tank this fish will most likely take up residence in a hard coral head, perching on top when at ease, and darting down inside the coral head when threatened. It may also take up refuge next to the base or under the tentacles of a large Magnificent/Ritteri Anemone (Heteractis magnifica, previously known as Radianthus ritteri).
The Flame Hawk gets along fairly well with other fishes, but may act aggressively towards other bottom-dwelling species. In a small aquarium this may present a problem, so either avoid other bottom-dwellers, or provide this fish with plenty of room and hiding places to ease territorial conflicts.
The Flame Hawkfish is a carnivore with a diet preference for small crustaceans, some sessile as well as motile invertebrates. It will eat feather dusters and ornamental shrimps, as well as may pick hermit crabs and snails right out of their shells! Even though fish are not a preferred food source, they may try and eat smaller fish if the opportunity arises.
This fish can be a very finicky eater, and in captivity some specimens may have a tendency to not want to eat at all. We found that most would adapt pretty well, while others would just ignore tank fed fares. With persistence and patience on our part, stubborn feeders would eventually figure out that the dried shrimp, flake foods, and other meaty fares we were providing them was food. This fish can be fed a daily diet of crustacean and fish fleshes, mysid shrimp, and other fresh or frozen meaty fares suitable for marine carnivores.
Paracirrhites forsteri is a Hawkfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 22cm in length.
A species that used to be hard to find, and expensive, being collected for the trade in the west almost exclusively at depths in Hawai'i, the Longnosed Hawkfish is now within modest means and readily available. Unlike most of the other Hawkfish family, Oxycirrhites typus is more secretive and less likely (though still capable) of eating small crustaceans. Like all cirrhitids it is bright, intelligent, frisky at times, disease resistant and a real character. Not for all types of systems, the Longnose is fine in most larger reef settings on down to peaceful fish only systems.
The spotted hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys aprinus, is a hawkfish of the family Cirrhitidae found across the Indo West Pacific oceans. The spotted hawkfish can reach a maximum length of 12.5cm. They are red-pink and white in color and they have tassles on the tip of their dorsal fins. They inhabite tropical reefs and they feed on very small fish and benthic invertebrates.