Common names: Forster’s Hawkfish, Blackside hawkfish, Freckle Faced Hawkfish,
Family: Cirrhitidae (Hawkfishes)
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 8.7 in.
Minimum tank size: 80 gallons
Hardiness: Easy
Aggressiveness: Aggressive and territorial. Few aquariums provide enough space for an optimal territory, so it usually just claims the whole tank. Do not keep it with fish equal to, or smaller than its own length. It should be the last fish introduced.
Reef Compatibility: Yes, with Caution. Safe with all corals and clams but will eat ornamental crustaceans and small fish.
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands.
Diet: Carnivore. Feeds mainly on small fishes crustaceans and shrimps. This fish is very eager to feed.
Additional information:
The Freckled faced Hawkfish, also known as Forster’s Hawkfish or Blackside Hawkfish is from the Indo-Pacific region where it is mostly found in clear lagoon or seaward reefs at depth of 5 to 100. Like most hawkfish, it is usually seen resting on coral heads, waiting for it’s preys.
Its color will change several times during its lifetime. In Oceania, juveniles are a yellowish and white ventrally while specimens from continental areas may be red dorsally. Adult may be pink, brown, or olive. The small dark reddish spots on the face are constant throughout its lifetime.
The ideal aquarium should have a temperature of 72F to 78F, a specific gravity of 1.020 to 1.025 and a pH between 8.1 and 8.4. Tank should be at least 80 gallon. It also require has a few rocks or corals to sit plenty of room to swim and establish its territory.
