Freckled Hawkfish
Paracirrhites forsteri
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 3 - 4" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $122.99.$64.99Current price is: $64.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 2 - 3" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $103.99.$54.99Current price is: $54.99. | Email me |
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Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | With Caution |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 70 gallons |
| Max Size | 8 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
Freckled Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) is an Indo-Pacific hawkfish with a freckled face and a darker side band that can vary by mood and location. It spends much of the day perched on rock ledges or coral branches, using stiff pectoral fins to hold a “lookout” position. Adults can reach about 8–9 inches, so it’s best planned as a centerpiece perch-and-pounce predator.
What You’ll Observe:
- Picking a favorite perch and repeatedly returning to the same lookout spots
- Short, fast dashes into the water column when food passes by
- Tracking activity outside the glass and “watching” the room from its ledge
- A bold feeding response, often coming out quickly at meal time
Provide stable rockwork with multiple ledges and overhangs so it can perch securely at different heights. Offer meaty foods like mysis, chopped seafood, and quality pellets/gel foods on a steady schedule so it learns the routine. With tankmates, aim for confident fish that won’t be treated as bite-sized competition.
Will it sit on corals, and is that normal?
Yes—perching is a core hawkfish behavior. Many keepers simply plan coral placement so repeated perching happens on sturdier colonies or rockwork instead.
Why does it “do nothing” for long stretches?
Hawkfish often hunt by watching and waiting. The quick movement usually comes in short bursts, especially around feeding and when something swims close.
Can I keep a pair of Freckled Hawkfish?
Some aquarists report success in very large, well-structured tanks, but it’s usually kept singly. If attempted, it tends to go best when both fish are introduced together with lots of separate perching zones.
Does it change color over time?
Many hobbyists notice shifts in darkness and contrast depending on lighting, background rock, and stress level. A gradual change after settling in is commonly reported.
How do I get it to eat prepared foods consistently?
A common approach is starting with frozen meaty foods (like mysis) and mixing in small pellets or gel foods over time. Once it associates your feeding spot with food, it often becomes very consistent.
We work with trusted suppliers who keep our specimens healthy and well-fed before shipping.
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