TankBud

Longnose hawkfish

Oxycirrhites typus

Also known as Longnosed Hawkfish

SaltwaterFish

Longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
5.1 in
13 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Cirrhitidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, plus the eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to the Galapagos

Overview

The longnose hawkfish is a hardy perching predator that sits on rock or coral and pounces on food. It is a step up from the easiest hawkfish.

Did you know

The longnose hawkfish can swallow prey larger than its mouth. It smashes the food against a rock first.

Caring for the longnose hawkfish

Give the longnose hawkfish at least 29 gal (110 L), with plenty of rockwork for perches and overhangs. Fit a tight lid, because it is a proven jumper.

Hold the temperature at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and the pH at 8.1 to 8.4. Feed meaty foods such as mysis and chopped seafood a couple of times a day, and keep it well fed.

The longnose hawkfish is mostly peaceful, but it will bully smaller, timid fish. Keep one to a tank, unless you introduce a mated pair together.

It is reef safe with caution. It leaves corals alone but hunts ornamental shrimp, tiny crabs and other small mobile invertebrates. It readily eats small cleaner shrimp, so do not trust it with a shrimp population.

Good to know

Oxycirrhites typus is the only species in its genus, within the hawkfish family Cirrhitidae. It is easy to recognize by its long, forceps-like snout and the red cross-hatched pattern over a white body. The elongated jaw lets it pick small crustaceans from tight coral crevices. Like all hawkfish, it lacks a swim bladder and props itself on the reef with thickened lower pectoral fin rays.

In the wild

The longnose hawkfish ranges across the Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea, and in the eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to the Galapagos. It lives on deeper reef slopes and drop-offs, usually perched among sea fans and black coral. It wedges itself into the branches there to watch for passing prey. It rests on rock, coral or sand and moves in short, darting hops.

Common questions

What size tank does a longnose hawkfish need?

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

What temperature and pH does a longnose hawkfish need?

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

What does a longnose hawkfish eat?

A longnose hawkfish eats meaty foods such as mysis and chopped seafood, a couple of times a day. It also hunts ornamental shrimp, tiny crabs and other small invertebrates.

How big does a longnose hawkfish get?

An adult longnose hawkfish reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

Related species