Glossary:
The Longnose hawkfish, or Oxycirrhites typus, is a potentially expensive but colorful addition for any saltwater tank. Like all other saltwater fish, there are some things to consider if you want to add this fish to your aquarium, but it can be a worthwhile buy with the right conditions and care.
Find out whether this fish is ideal for your tank with this care guide.
Generally, the Longnose hawkfish is a safe addition to most reef tanks, but there are some potential issues to think about before you add this fish to any reef tank.
For one, these fish enjoy perching, which could be inadvertently harmful to your coral, so give this species plenty of areas to perch that aren’t made of coral. Also, avoid keeping any Catalaphyllia and sea anemones in a tank with this fish, as Longnose hawkfish aren’t accustomed to stinging invertebrates that might cause harm to them and, as such, might just swim right into them.
The Longnose hawkfish enjoy the hunt when feeding time comes around. They tend to use an ambush technique on their prey, which can be entertaining to watch. Typically, they feed on bottom-dwelling crustaceans, but their diet can be flexible in captivity.
Other potential meals for this fish could include everything from smaller fish species to brine shrimp, and you can feed them various live, frozen, and freeze-dried foods.
As a semi-aggressive yet hardy fish, you should avoid keeping more than one Longnose hawkfish together unless there’s plenty of space for them to claim as their own. However, they are typically peaceful among other species of similar or larger sizes.
This species lives in the Indo-West Pacific region. The Longnose hawkfish thrives in deeper parts of the ocean with high currents, which help keep them afloat as they don’t have a swim bladder and sink if they don’t swim. They may also rest on black coral or gorgonian fans.
Potentially, yes. This species does tend to get along well with many other species of fish in saltwater aquariums, but they may become aggressive toward smaller fish and crustaceans when hunting them for food.
The price of a Longnose hawkfish will vary depending on where you look, but it’s one of the more expensive saltwater fish on the market in many places. However, it’s not the priciest fish, either. You can find this fish at most marketplaces for around $70 to $100, but some places offer them for around $40 to $50.
You can shop around to find the best deals on this species.
Here are a few interesting facts you might not have known about the Longnose hawkfish:
The Longnose hawkfish is an often peaceful fish in many tanks, but it does have the capacity for aggressiveness depending on the tank mates it has. When considering tank mates, keep in mind that it’s best to have only one Longnose hawkfish in your tank at a time in most cases if you want to avoid fights over territory.
You should also keep smaller fish away from this species to keep them from becoming meals, and they also like to snack on small crustaceans.
However, the following are some ideal tank mates that are likely to get along with your Longnose hawkfish:
You’ll find the Longnose hawkfish at many online aquarium stores, including the following outlets:
Although costly and possibly a bit difficult to care for, the Longnose hawkfish is a popular option that can be a great fish to own.