TankBud

Flame hawkfish

Neocirrhites armatus

Also known as Brilliant Red Hawkfish

SaltwaterFish

Flame hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus)
Brian Gratwicke · CC BY 2.0

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
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Cirrhitidae
Origin
Western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands and Micronesia south to the Great Barrier Reef and the Line Islands

Overview

The flame hawkfish is a bold little perching fish for a saltwater tank with rock to claim. It is one of the easier hawkfish to keep.

Did you know

Flame hawkfish often adopt a single coral or rock cave as a permanent perch. They retreat into it whenever startled.

Caring for the flame hawkfish

House the flame hawkfish in at least 29 gal (110 L), with strong flow. Build a rock structure with caves and ledges it can claim as home. It is an accomplished jumper, so fit a tight lid.

Aim for 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. The flame hawkfish is hardy, adapts quickly and eats readily.

It is mostly peaceful, but it defends a home den and may chase small gobies, blennies or newly added timid fish. Add it after shyer tank mates have settled. It leaves corals alone but treats small shrimp, feather dusters, tiny hermits and other small crustaceans as food. That makes it reef safe with caution.

Good to know

Neocirrhites armatus is a hawkfish of the family Cirrhitidae and the only species in its genus. Its solid scarlet body, black-edged dorsal ridge and dark eye markings set it apart from the patterned longnose hawkfish. Like other hawkfish, it has no swim bladder, so it rests rather than swims. Thickened lower pectoral fin rays act like little legs, letting it prop on coral and rock in high-flow zones.

In the wild

The flame hawkfish ranges across the western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands and Micronesia south to the Great Barrier Reef and the Line Islands. It 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.

Common questions

What size tank does a flame hawkfish need?

A flame hawkfish needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a flame hawkfish need?

A flame hawkfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a flame hawkfish eat?

A flame hawkfish eats readily, and it treats small shrimp, feather dusters, tiny hermits and other small crustaceans as food.

How big does a flame hawkfish get?

An adult flame hawkfish reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

Related species