Longnose hawkfish
Oxycirrhites typus
The Longnose hawkfish exhibits a distinctive elongated snout, vibrant orange-red coloration, and prominent white spots along its body.
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About the Longnose hawkfish
A white-and-red lattice pattern and a long snout give this hawkfish a cool, almost checkerboard look. It perches on rock or gorgonians like a tiny raptor, watching for small crustaceans to snatch. Great personality, but it may view ornamental shrimp as snacks.
Also known as
Quick Facts
Size
13 cm
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Difficulty
Beginner
Min Tank Size
30 gallons
Lifespan
5-7 years
Origin
Indo-Pacific and tropical eastern Pacific
Diet
Carnivore - meaty foods (mysis, shrimp, chopped seafood); may accept pellets
Water Parameters
22-26°C
8.1-8.4
Need a heater for this species?
This species needs 22-26°C in a 30 gallon tank. Use our heater calculator to find the right wattage.
Calculate heater sizeCare Notes
- Give a minimum 30-gallon marine tank with solid rockwork and branching perches; this fish loves to sit on rock or gorgonians and watch for prey.
- Hold temperature at 22-26 C and pH at 8.1-8.4, and keep conditions stable.
- Feed a carnivore diet of meaty foods like mysis, chopped shrimp, and other chopped seafood; many will also learn to take marine pellets.
- Expect it to view ornamental shrimp and other small crustaceans as snacks, so skip those tankmates.
- Semi-aggressive temperament pairs best with similarly sized, confident fish rather than very timid nano species.
- Reef-safe with caution: it does not bother corals, but its perching means you should secure delicate frags and provide sturdy branches to sit on.
- Keep one per tank unless you have a known pair and adequate space, as hawkfish often fight with their own kind.
- Use a tight-fitting lid; longnose hawkfish can jump when startled.
Compatibility
Good Tankmates
- Robust clownfish (Amphiprion spp.) - similar-sized, hold their ground, and are not shrimp-like prey
- Dwarf angelfish (Centropyge spp.) - semi-aggressive but generally respectful tankmates
- Fairy or flasher wrasses (Cirrhilabrus, Paracheilinus) - active, fast, and unlikely to be harassed
- Basslets and grammas (Gramma, Liopropoma) - rock hiders that coexist well and are too big to be viewed as prey
- Larger gobies and blennies (watchman, midas, lawnmower) - sturdy, bottom or midwater, and not bite-sized
- Cardinalfish (Banggai, pajama) - peaceful midwater fish that are usually ignored
Avoid
- Ornamental shrimp (cleaner, peppermint, sexy, anemone shrimp) - often hunted and eaten
- Very small nano fish that can fit in its mouth (Trimma/Eviota gobies, tiny dartfish, juvenile firefish)
- Other hawkfish or similar perching predators - territorial disputes and chasing
- Highly territorial bullies (aggressive dottybacks, sixline wrasses, big damsels) - likely to harass or outcompete
The longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) is a medium marine perch-like fish with a white body overlaid by a red lattice and a distinctive long snout. It spends much of its time perched on rock or branching gorgonians, watching for small crustaceans to ambush. Great personality, but it can treat ornamental shrimp as food.
- Size: up to 13 cm
- Minimum tank: 30 US gallons
- Temperament: semi-aggressive
- Care level: beginner
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
Origin and natural habitat
Indo-Pacific and tropical eastern Pacific. In the wild, longnose hawkfish are often seen perched in branching gorgonians and corals, using their long snout to pick off small crustaceans from the water column.
Aquarium setup and water conditions
A 30 gallon marine tank or larger works for a single fish. Build a scape with plenty of sturdy, branching rockwork and elevated perches so it can sit and survey the tank. Provide open sight lines between perches so it can hop from spot to spot.
- Temperature: 22-26 C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Well-oxygenated, stable saltwater with good filtration
Known jumper. Use a tight-fitting lid or mesh cover.
Diet and feeding
Carnivore. Offer meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, chopped shrimp, and other finely chopped seafood. Many individuals also learn to take quality marine pellets.
Feed near its perch. Deliver small portions with tongs or in the flow so food passes by where it sits, especially if faster swimmers are present.
Behaviour and tankmates
Semi-aggressive and perch-territorial rather than a nonstop swimmer. It will dart out to grab food and may bully very timid, tiny fish that hang near its perch. Generally leaves corals alone, but it can sit on them; some polyps may stay retracted under a parked hawkfish.
Small ornamental shrimp and other tiny crustaceans are at risk of being eaten. Choose tankmates accordingly. Longnose hawkfish are usually kept one per tank to avoid hawkfish-on-hawkfish disputes.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Jumping: Always cover the tank.
- Predation on shrimp: Do not house with small ornamental shrimp if you want to keep them.
- Feeding competition: Target-feed or deliver food to its perch so faster swimmers do not grab everything first.
- Perching on delicate colonies: Expect some coral polyp retraction where it likes to sit; provide alternative rocky perches to draw it away.
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