Pixy Hawkfish – Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
Species name: Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
Common names: Coral hawkfish, Pixy Hawkfish. Should not be confused with Cirrhitichthys aprinus, also called the Spotted Hawkfish.
Family: Cirrhitidae (Hawkfishes)
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 3.9 in.
Minimum tank size: 30 gallons
Hardiness: Easy
Aggressiveness:
Reef Compatibility: With caution. It will eat small fish and crustaceans. It should not be kept with smaller, less aggressive species.
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to East London, South Africa and east to the Marquesan Islands, north to the Mariana Islands, south to New Caledonia. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Colombia and the Galapagos Islands
Diet: Carnivore. Feed chopped shrimp, enriched mysid, live feeder shrimp and other meaty foods daily. Bottom-dwelling invertebrates and zooplankton are also its favorite food.
Additional information:
The Coral Hawkfish inhabit the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific where it can be found in areas of rich coral growth and clear water (lagoons, channels or seaward reefs) at depth of 10 to 130 feet.
This is a nice little fish with a whitish-blue body and large red spots that spend most of its time perched on the sand bed waiting for its prey. It dart with amazing speed to grab food items that catch its ever-alert eye.
The ideal aquarium should have a temperature of 72-78ºF with a specific gravity of 1.020-1.025 and a pH between 8.1 and 8.4. Structures to perch on and crannies to hide in are essential for the Spotted Hawkfish.
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Article written by www.aquariumslife.com
References: FishBase, Marine Fishes by Scott W. Michael
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