Common names: Arc-eye hawkfish, Arc-Eyed Hawkfish
Family: Cirrhitidae (Hawkfishes)
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 7.8 in.
Minimum tank size: 30 gallons
Hardiness: Easy
Aggressiveness: Aggressive. Known to become territorial, and may bother other docile fish. It becomes very territorial and should be the last fish introduced into the tank community. Do not keep it with fish equal to, or smaller than its own length because it will swallow them.
Reef Compatibility: Add with caution. Does not bother coral but may pick at anemones, eat ornamental shrimps, crabs and small fish.
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Line and Mangaréva islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and Rapa.
Diet: Carnivore. Diet should consist of frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, feeder shrimps, small fish and other meaty items. May take high quality flake food or pellets. Feed daily.
Additional information:
Occur in lagoon and seaward reefs from 3 to at least 100 feet, on heads of small branching corals, e.g. Stylophora, Pocillopora, Acropora (Ref. 9710). It feeds mainly on shrimps, small fish, crabs, and other crustaceans. When a prey ventures close enough, the Arc-eye Hawkfish will make a quick dash and seize it.
This species come in a wide range of color variants, but all specimens have a distinctive ring that consists of three thin lines extending around and behind the eye. Some of the most commonly occurring color variants are light brown, deep red and orange. A white to pink stripe is often present along the lateral line on the rear of the fish. Each dorsal fin spine is tipped with a cirrus. Lacking a swim bladder, they spend most of their time perched on corals, watching for prey.
A 30 gallon or larger aquarium provides a good environment. Provide lots of rock work and branching coral to perch on and as territory. The Arc Eye Hawkfish should ideally be kept in temperatures between 72F and 78F. A pH value of 8.1 to 8.4, and a specific gravity of 1.020 to 1.025 should be maintained.
