Long Nose Hawkfish requirements?

Dilan Patel · Jul 12, 2017

So I have been thinking of adding one last fish into my 55gallon reef. I have always liked the long nose Hawkfish and want to hear experiences with this fish in a reef tank. Thanks.

chefjpaul · Jul 12, 2017

I love them. Hes a little food beggar.

They like food and a place to perch.
Haven't had many conversations with him regarding his housing accommodations and liking.

Dilan Patel · Jul 12, 2017

Not picking on any corals or fish?

4FordFamily · Jul 12, 2017

Dilan Patel said:
Not picking on any corals or fish?

Very very unlikely to do either. A pretty docile hawkfish and coral safe.

Small hermits are technically on the menu but most leave them alone as well

Dilan Patel · Jul 12, 2017

i have a melanarus wrasse so I think the wrasse got to the hermits first lol.

chefjpaul · Jul 12, 2017

I dont keep crabs.

Theyre super chill fish.

Dilan Patel · Jul 12, 2017

Do they by any chance eat any coral pests like wrasses do?

jp_75 · Jul 12, 2017

very cool fish to have! fun to watch and always ready for more food.... you going to love this fish!

leahfiish · Jul 13, 2017

Make sure you have a tight fitting lid with no gaps. They will jump.

I have heard of them eating shrimp and being aggressive towards new small fish but I've never experienced that. Their mouths are much bigger than they look though.

They have great personalities and will often follow you around the tank begging for food and perching on the side of the glass.

landlubber · Jul 13, 2017

my most personable fish are my longnose and flame hawks. they don't have swim bladders so they swim in quick efforts and then settle on a nice high perch so they can watch the tank below them... like a hawk does!
i will always have them for as long as i reef.

NanoCrazed · Jul 13, 2017

I have one in my 13.5 G along with small fish and small crabs, corals, etc... model citizen.

Mine started off only eating frozen frim a turkey baster and now will also take pellets. Super easy to care for...

Rakie · Jul 13, 2017

I think in general hawkfish (or any perchlet really) are extremely personable. It's just kind of in their personality. While not a true hawkfish, I had a pygmy hawk that would not only follow me around the tank, but perch on the rock nearest me and watch what I was doing on the computer. I'm not saying he made sense of any of it of course, but the flashes and colors piqued his interest I suppose.

He was a cool fish. He grew very bold.. But cool none the less.

Old Glory · Jul 13, 2017

Great fish. They are jumpers so you need a lid.

klp · Jul 14, 2017

A friend of mine lost some fish a little smaller than this hawkfish. The hawkfish was at about 3 inches. When he removed the hawkfish the attrition stopped. He never witnessed any aggression but did not spend a lot of time with the tank (7 kids at the time kept him busy).

Eva Rose · Jul 14, 2017

My personal longnose hawk has never shown any aggression. I have had it for 3 years now. Beautiful fish. Like all hawkfish it loves to perch. Its favorite perch is a gorgonian in my tank.