TankBud

Freckled hawkfish

Paracirrhites forsteri

Also known as Forster's Hawkfish, Blackside Hawkfish, Freckleface Hawkfish

SaltwaterFish

Freckled hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri)
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
8.7 in
22 cm
Minimum tank
70 gal
265 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Own kind
One per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Cirrhitidae
Origin
Widespread in the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and French Polynesia, perching on coral heads on exposed reefs.

Overview

The freckled hawkfish is a perching hawkfish for the rockwork of a saltwater tank, and it is easy to keep.

Did you know

The freckled hawkfish often wedges itself right into a branching coral or rock crevice. From there it surveys its territory like a hawk on a perch.

Caring for the freckled hawkfish

Give the freckled hawkfish a tank of at least 70 gal (265 L), with sturdy rock perches. Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

Feed meaty foods such as mysis, chopped seafood and krill. It is reef safe with caution, since it leaves corals alone but will eat small fish, shrimp and crabs.

The freckled hawkfish is bold, territorial and aggressive, so add it to the tank late. Keep only one per tank, and choose tank mates large enough to stand up to it.

Good to know

Paracirrhites forsteri is a hawkfish in the family Cirrhitidae. Like all hawkfish, it has no swim bladder, so it sits and perches instead of hovering. It props itself up on thick pectoral fins. Its color varies widely, but most have a freckled face and a dark stripe along the back half of the body. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite that changes from female to male, and a male may guard a small harem.

In the wild

The freckled hawkfish is widespread in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and French Polynesia. It perches on coral heads on exposed reefs. From its perch, it ambushes small fish and crustaceans that pass by.

Common questions

What size tank does a freckled hawkfish need?

A freckled hawkfish needs at least 70 gal (265 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a freckled hawkfish need?

A freckled hawkfish is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a freckled hawkfish eat?

A freckled hawkfish eats meaty foods such as mysis, chopped seafood and krill. In the tank it will also eat small fish, shrimp and crabs.

How big does a freckled hawkfish get?

An adult freckled hawkfish reaches about 8.7 in (22 cm).

Related species