Care
The brightly coloured and slightly comical appearance of the Scarlet Hawkfish makes it a popular choice for many marine aquarists. It is best suited to reef aquaria where there is an abundance of shady hiding places amongst the living rock. Tankmates must be chosen with care however, as the Scarlet Hawkfish has a surprisingly capacious mouth and will prey on ornamental shrimp, snails, crabs, worms, and may behave quite aggressively towards other bottom dwellers. Large sized adults are capable of taking small fish. Scarlet Hawkfish will spend a large amount of their time resting in a preferred shelter, or hopping from rock to rock, watching everything going on around them with much interest. However, they have lightning quick reflexes and will dart out to snatch at any food morsels in the vicinity. Powerful filtration, skimming, and water movement are a must for this surge-dwelling species; indeed, highly oxygenated water is absolutely essential for their long-term wellbeing. In the wild, Scarlet Hawkfish are often found amidst churning, current-swept reef fronts, where they hide amongst branching corals such as Pocillopora and Stylophora. Keep only one per tank, unless a mated pair, and do not keep with any other hawkfish species or slender placid fish such as dart gobies or firefish. The Scarlet Hawkfish can be very territorial, so it is best added to the tank last, after all your other fish are well established. Ensure that the tank is well covered as these fish are accomplished jumpers and can dart upwards with incredibly powerful bursts of speed.
Feeding
Meaty frozen foods such as vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Spirulina-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp, chopped krill/squid/cockle/mussel. Feed small amounts 3 times per day.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in the home aquarium. Eggs are said to be scattered high up in the water column at dusk.
