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Flame Hawkfish

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Neocirrhites armatus

Complete Flame Hawkfish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible saltwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Flame Hawkfish

Quick Answer

Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus) is a brilliant red fish with a distinctive perching behavior. It requires a minimum 30 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 8.1 - 8.4 and temperature range of 24-26°C. As a carnivore with semi-aggressive tendencies, careful tankmate selection is essential.

Intro

Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus) is a brilliant red fish with a distinctive perching behavior. It will sit on rocks and coral branches, observing its surroundings.

Setup

A 30-gallon or larger reef tank with plenty of live rock for perching. Moderate water flow. A tight lid is recommended as they can jump.

Feeding

Carnivorous; eats meaty foods: mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, and small pellets. Feed once daily.

Compatibility

Semi-aggressive; will eat small shrimp (cleaner, peppermint) and small fish. Keep singly. Good with larger reef fish. Avoid with shy or small tankmates.

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Tank Position
Bottom/Middle
Water Temp
24-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
8.1 - 8.4

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Carnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

Banggai Cardinalfish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet semanticSimilarity Blue Green Chromis Care Guide: Reef Tank & Diet semanticSimilarity Coral Banded Shrimp Care Guide: Water Params & Breeding semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Flame Hawkfish should be kept together?
Keep only one per tank, even in systems over 100 gallons (378 liters). Flame hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus) are highly territorial toward other hawkfish and will actively defend their preferred perching rocks. Two individuals of any species of hawkfish in under 75 gallons fight to severe injury. A single adult requires a minimum of 30 gallons (113 liters) with a footprint of 30x12 inches (75x30 cm) and ample live rock (1.5 lbs/gallon) for perching. Provide at least 5 branching coral or rock structures. Avoid with small gobies and ornamental shrimp (they will be eaten).
What are the exact marine water parameters for Flame Hawkfish?
Target pH 8.1 - 8.4, specific gravity 1.023 - 1.025 (35-35.5 ppt), General Hardness 7 - 12 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 8 - 12 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 32,000 - 35,000 ppm, and temperature 72°F - 78°F (22°C - 26°C). They lack a swim bladder and spend their time perching on rock structures; provide strong rockwork. Maintain nitrates below 15 ppm with weekly 20% water changes. Use a protein skimmer and powerheads for moderate flow (10x turnover). Stable salinity is critical; fluctuations cause stress. Ammonia must be 0 ppm.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Flame Hawkfish?
They are carnivores requiring 60% protein, 15% fat, 25% algae. Feed frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp (enriched), chopped krill, and premium marine pellets twice daily. They may hunt small ornamental shrimp (cleaner shrimp, sexy shrimp) and small fish fry. Supplement with live ghost shrimp occasionally. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.15 mg/L Cupramine) and formalin. Praziquantel is safe. Quarantine with chloroquine phosphate (15 mg/L) for 14 days. Avoid hyposalinity below 1.018. They are hardy and rarely get diseases.
How to breed Flame Hawkfish in captivity?
Breeding is rare but possible in large tanks (100+ gallons) with a bonded pair. Condition with frozen mysis and krill for 4 weeks. They are substrate spawners; the pair clears a flat rock surface. Spawning occurs at dawn; female lays 100-300 adhesive eggs. Male guards and fans eggs for 5-7 days at 75°F (24°C). Eggs hatch; larvae are pelagic and require rotifers and phytoplankton for 30-40 days. Metamorphosis occurs at 0.6 inches (1.5 cm). Larval rearing is extremely difficult; not recommended for hobbyists.

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