Guide Fish Care Rating: 1 Stars
Scientific Name: Paracirrhites forsteri (Bloch & Schneider, 1801).
Other Common & Hawaiian Names: Speckled Hawkfish, Blackside Hawkfish, Forster's Hawkfish, Pi-li-ko-'a, and Hi-lu Pi-li-ko-'a.
Distribution: Extends from Hawai'i southward to central Polynesia, westward through Micronesia and Melanesia, through the East Indies, and across the Indian Ocean to the coast of Africa and the Red Sea.
Identification: The Freckled Hawkfish has many color phases. Adults may be of a light pink, brown, or olive color, with or without the lighter tones streaks down the side of the body. Another color phase is where the body is a deep maroon with a yellow tail, which was originally identified as another species, Paracirrhites typee. However, it was later discovered that it was just another color phase of P. forsteri. No matter what color phase, the face is speckled with red or black spots.
Average Size: To about 9 inches, but some specimens have been known to reach 10-12 inches.
Minimum Tank Size Suggested: Because of the large size this fish grows to, no less than 75 gallons.
Habitat: Bottom-dweller found in all areas around the reef from shallow to deep waters, preferring sandy-bottom areas with coral heads and stones present to perch upon and hide in.
Characteristics & Compatibility: The Freckled Hawkfish is a predatory bottom-dweller. It likes to perch on top of rocks or coral heads, just waiting for unsuspecting prey to swim by. When threatened it will dash under the rock or go down inside the coral head it is sitting on for protection. This species of Hawkfish lives a solitary life and can be aggressive towards most other fish, especially those of its own species, or ones that are introduced into an aquarium after it has established itself.
Because of this fish's hunting traits and the large size that it can achieve, it is best kept in an aggressive community with other fish such as Triggers, Lions, Groupers, larger Angels, Tangs or Surgeons, Eels, and other larger predatory species.
Diet & Feeding: A predatory carnivore, this fish's main diet consists of crustaceans like shrimps and crabs, and is a voracious fish eater. This is one of the more aggressive Hawkfish species that can present a threat to other smaller tankmates, so be careful, as it can open its mouth wider than you may think! It most likely will not disturb sessile invertebrates. In captivity it can be fed a daily diet of fresh or frozen meaty fares suitable for marine carnivores.
~Debbie & Stan Hauter
