Oxycirrhites typus
| Common Names: | Longnose Hawkfish Longsnout Hawkfish |
| Synonyms: |
| Family: | Cirrhitidae |
| Category: | Percoids |
| Distribution: | Pacific - South; Has a wide distribution throughout the tropical South Pacific Ocean. Though its range extends out to almost the far eastern and western edges of the Pacific, the longnose hawkfish is most typically found in the Indo-Pacific to Hawaii area. |
| Main Ecosystem: | Reef; They live in reef habitats, typically amongst gorgonians. |
| Temperament: | Territorial; They can often be territorial, and are best added to a tank after most or all of the other fish in order to prevent aggression. Do not keep with other hawkfish and especially not other longnose hawks, as they will usually fight in all but the largest systems unless a mated pair has formed. |
| Diet: | Carnivore; These carnivorous fish are very unlikely to turn down any meaty offerings. They can easily adapt to a wide range of aquarium foods. They will also willingly consume small tankmates, such as bottom-dwelling fish (particularly if they are added to the system after the hawk), crabs, and shrimp. Snails may also be attacked. Beware, the mouth of this species opens wider than you think! |
| Care: | Like other hawkfish, the longnose hawk is quite hardy and disease-resistant. They need no special care, and can thrive in fish-only, live rock, and reef setups. This fish favors tanks with rocks and corals to serve as perches, but they are not necessary for survival. As long as a system with enough space and fairly clean water is provided, this species should thrive. |
| pH: |
| Temperature: |
|
| Specific Gravity: |
|
| Potential Size: | Male: 12cm (4.7") Female: 12cm (4.7") |
| Water Region: | Middle, Surface; Will either sit on the substrate or perch on rock, corals, or other decorations. This species prefers high perches over resting on the bottom. |
| Activity: | NonSpecific; Can be active both during the day and at night. |
| Gender: | Adult males have black fringing on their pelvic and caudal fins. All of these fish begin life as females, and can later become male. |
| Breeding: | These fish generally form pair bonds in the wild, though harems of one male and several females have been reported. The fish will court and spawn just before sunset as with other hawkfish, and rise up several feet in the water column to release their sperm and eggs. They have been spawned in captivity, but there are no reports of any fry resulting. It is uncommon for two fish to form a pair bond in captivity, especially if they are not introduced at the same time. There is a greater chance of bo |
| Variants: |
| Comments: | This is one of the two most popular hawkfish species (along with the flame hawkfish), and is in high demand by aquarists. For this reason and because of its relative scarcity in the wild, this species can command somewhat high prices. The longnose hawkfish can be found over a broad swath of the Pacific, but it is not exactly common along its range. They are also found at deeper locations than most other hawkfish, which mean that sightings of these fish are coveted by divers and photographers. |
| Main Colours: | White, Red |
| Markings: | Mottled |
| Mouth: | Normal |
| Tail: | Concave |
| Search: | Show similar species Find compatible species |
| Image Credit: | sirbooks |
| Submitted By: | sirbooks |
| Contributors: | sirbooks |
| History: | View changes to this profile |
| Edit Profile: |