Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) Care Guide

A charismatic hawkfish with a distinctive elongated snout and a white body covered in a red checkered crosshatch pattern.

Overview

Oxycirrhites typus is a species in the family Cirrhitidae. A charismatic hawkfish with a distinctive elongated snout and a white body covered in a red checkered crosshatch pattern. Perches motionless on sea fans and branching corals, using its thickened pectoral fins as a support. An active and curious fish that closely watches everything happening in the tank. Reef-safe with caution around small shrimp.

Taxonomy

Family: Cirrhitidae
Genus: Oxycirrhites
Scientific name: Oxycirrhites typus
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Eastern Pacific

Habitat

Distributed across the tropical Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and from southern Japan to New Caledonia, and into the eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to Colombia. Perches on branching black corals (Antipatharia) and gorgonians at depths of 10-100 m, ambushing crustaceans and small fish.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 120 L
Temperature: 24-27 °C
pH: 8.1-8.4
GH: 8-12 °dGH
Water flow: moderate
Adult size: 8-13 cm
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Difficulty: beginner

Diet

Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: semi-aggressive
Swimming level: middle
Compatible tank mates: Clownfish, Tangs, Angelfish, Large Wrasses
Avoid with: Small Shrimp, Small Gobies, Other Hawkfish

Reef compatibility

Generally classified as reef-safe with caution: may opportunistically pick at small ornamental shrimps, sessile invertebrates or, in some individuals, polyps. Suitability depends on the specific reef stock.

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
Breeding difficulty: advanced