Flame Hawkfish
Neocirrhites armatus
Also known as Brilliant Red Hawkfish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 3.5 in (9 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal (110 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Origin
- Western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands and Micronesia south to the Great Barrier Reef and the Line Islands
- Family
- Cirrhitidae
Overview
A hardy, bold little perching fish that adapts quickly and eats readily, making it one of the easier hawkfish to keep. It is semi-aggressive: it defends a home den and may chase small gobies, blennies, or newly added timid fish, so add it after shyer tankmates are settled. It leaves corals alone but treats small shrimp, feather dusters, tiny hermits, and other small crustaceans as food, so it is reef safe with caution.
In the wild
The flame hawkfish lives among the branches of live Pocillopora and Stylophora corals on shallow, surge-swept reef flats. It perches down inside the coral thicket and darts out to grab food, then retreats back to its den. In the aquarium it wants strong flow and a rock structure with caves and ledges it can claim as home. Like other hawkfish it has no swim bladder and rests rather than swims, and it is an accomplished jumper that needs a tight lid.
Good to know
Neocirrhites armatus is the only species in its genus. Its solid scarlet body with a black-edged dorsal ridge and dark eye markings sets it apart from the patterned longnose hawkfish. Thickened lower pectoral fin rays act like little legs, letting it prop on coral and rock in high-flow zones.
Did you know
Flame hawkfish are strongly tied to living Pocillopora coral heads in the wild and will often adopt a single coral or rock cave as a permanent perch, retreating into it whenever startled.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- Saltwaterfish.com Marine fish, corals and inverts shipped overnight
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Flame Hawkfish?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Pixy Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Falco Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys falco2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Longnose Hawkfish
Oxycirrhites typus5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Arc-Eye Hawkfish
Paracirrhites arcatus7.9 in (20 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Lyretail Hawkfish
Cyprinocirrhites polyactis5.9 in (15 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Freckled Hawkfish
Paracirrhites forsteri8.7 in (22 cm)70 gal (265 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)