About Longnose Hawkfish
Striking red-and-white grid pattern on a long-snouted hawkfish that perches in branching coral. Reef-compatible with corals but will pick off small ornamental shrimp. Hardy and easy to feed once established.
The longnose hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found on tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, where it can be found at depths around 10 to 100 m. It prefers the steep outer slopes of the reefs amongst gorgonians and black corals. This species can reach 13 cm (5.1 in) in total length. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member in its genus.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Distinctive grid pattern of red squares on a white body with a long beak-like snout. Perches in branching corals (Acropora, Pocillopora, gorgonians).
In your tank. Reef-compatible with corals but will eat small ornamental shrimp and tiny gobies. Personality-driven; quickly recognizes the keeper and food source.
Care notes. Hardy and easy to feed once established. Aggressive toward other hawkfish. Best singly. A tight-fitting lid is recommended.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Indo-Pacific reefs ($50–100). Carnivore — mysis, krill, small meaty foods.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 218865).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) Micha Baum, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC-BY-SA (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).