Pixy Hawkfish

The pixy hawkfish is recognized by its body, which ranges from whitish to pink, and the irregular rows of red-brown blotches on it; the tail is also spotted, and there are small tufts on the tips of the dorsal spines. The color tone varies from individual to individual. It is a relative of the dwarf hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco), which has its own page on the site; in the aquarium it usually stays at 8–10 cm. In the wild it perches on top of or beneath hard and soft corals in clear-water, coral-rich lagoons and outer reefs, and hunts crustaceans and small fish. It is a hardy fish that is easy to feed.

• At least 110 liters.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe with caution: it does not eat corals, but hunts small ornamental shrimp and crabs.
• Rock tops and sturdy corals it can perch on.

Carnivorous. Offer frozen mysis, brine shrimp, krill, finely chopped seafood and granules. Once or twice a day is enough.

Generally calm towards fish, but it may hunt very small fish that fit in its mouth (tiny gobies, fry). It is territorial towards its own kind and other hawkfish; it is kept alone.

Good companions: Clownfish, damselfish, tangs, dwarf angelfish, chromis, wrasses.

Avoid: Small ornamental shrimp, tiny fish such as the neon goby, other hawkfish.