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Little Shop of Coral

Coral (Pixy) Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus)

Coral (Pixy) Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus)

$50.00 CAD
$50.00 CAD
Sale Sold out
Size

The Coral Hawkfish is a bold, perch-and-pounce predator with tons of personality. Instead of constantly swimming, hawkfish love to sit on rock ledges and coral branches like little sentries, watching everything in the tank and darting out when food hits the water. They’re hardy, charismatic, and make an awesome addition to many reef and fish-only systems.

Why we love it

  • Unique “perching” behavior — always posted up on the rockwork

  • Hardy and confident, great for active community tanks

  • Strong feeder with loads of personality

  • Adds movement and interest without nonstop swimming

Care & Compatibility

Care Level: Easy–Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Safe: With caution (may eat small shrimp/crabs)
Diet: Carnivore
Adult Size: ~4–5" (varies by species)
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons recommended (bigger is always better)

Feeding

Coral hawkfish are eager eaters and usually adapt quickly:

  • Frozen mysis, brine, krill, chopped seafood

  • High-quality pellets (once established)

  • Feed small amounts 1–2x daily

Reef Compatibility (Important)

This fish is typically safe with corals, but not always safe with small inverts:

  • May hunt peppermint shrimp, cleaner shrimp, sexy shrimp, and tiny crabs

  • Larger, established shrimp sometimes work but it’s never guaranteed
    If your tank is shrimp-heavy, this may not be the best choice.

Tank & Setup Notes

  • Provide lots of perches and caves (they love vantage points)

  • Moderate flow and stable reef parameters

  • Secure lid recommended — they can jump when startled

Acclimation & Health

Generally hardy, but like most fish, a slow acclimation is best. Quarantine is recommended when possible.

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LIGHT

LOW: Place coral at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the type, coral may need to be placed off sand and therefore mounted on a ceramic disc of piece of rock.

MEDIUM: Place coral at mid-range of the tank. Best placed/glued on top of a rock scape at mid-range height. 

HIGH: Place coral from mid range to just below water level. SPS coral are shallow growing so they require and are able to tolerate intense light.

FLOW

LOW: Most soft coral do well with a small, gentle pulse. There are certain corals that can even be placed in areas of indirect flow, meaning places aside a rock structure or set into a entrance to a cave style space.

MEDIUM: Many LPS types of coral prefer medium pulse current. Most Euphyllia or corals that have more tissue structure connected to their skeleton, don’t like to be in a high flow area like the direct flow of the wave pump.

HIGH: Similar to high light, SPS enjoy being in some heavy current. Most LPS and SPS that branch encrust or plate prefer high flow that simulates the top water waves.

SKILL

ENTRY: While some may say beginner level, "Entry" is a good term to be used when starting out in the world of corals and marine life. Prior to adding livestock, you want to ensure that your reef has the proper parameters including zero levels of ammonia and nitrite. Seeing traces of nitrate in your waters is a good sign - just keep them at a lower level of 2ppm to 10ppm. Maintaining correct temperature and salinity are a huge factor to stable parameters. Starting to monitor your PH, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium is a great habit to get into to keep a successful reef.

While some soft coral don’t require too much light, having a proper reef light that puts out the proper pars is very important. You'll also want to have a good amount of flow and protected rock areas, as placing corals in their happy spot is ideal for success.

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