Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Flame Hawkfish

Neocirrhites armatus

Also called Neocirrhites armatus

SpeciesShort profile

From Western and central Pacific: from the Ryukyu Islands to the Line Islands and Mangareva, south to the Great Barrier Reef and Austral Islands, including Micronesia1 2

At a glance the quick version

Length9 cm1 2 3

Sizetiny

Intense fire-red colour

Fun perching behaviour

Small enough for a modest marine tank

2 3

Looks how to spot one

Small, deep-bodied perching reef fish

A small, deep-bodied fish in solid bright red, with black around the eyes and a dark stripe along the base of the dorsal fin. It has little tufts of cirri on its nostrils and strong pelvic fins it uses to sit on coral.2 3

Coloursredblack2 3

Personality what they are like

Mostly peaceful toward other fish of a similar size. It sits watchfully on a perch and darts out when food drifts past.3 2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Not a constant swimmer; it hops from perch to perch among rock and coral branches.3 2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide plenty of live rock and coral-like perches. Very small shrimp and tiny bottom-dwelling gobies or blennies may be seen as food, so choose tankmates with care. Well-oxygenated water suits it.3 1

Home where they are happiest

A tank of at least 30 US gallons (about 115 L) with lots of rockwork. Wild fish live on surge-swept reef fronts and terraces in water of about 25 to 29 °C; depth records range from about 1 to 25 m.3 1 2

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A carnivore. Offer marine meaty foods and frozen preparations; wild fish feed on small crustaceans.3 1 2

Company who they like around

Pairs are monogamous in the wild. In an aquarium it is usually kept singly.1 2

The story where it all began

Francis de Laporte de Castelnau described the species in 1873. It is the only member of its genus, Neocirrhites, a name meaning 'new Cirrhites', and armatus ('armed') refers to the spines on its gill cover.2 1

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
It has no swim bladder, so it rests on coral using its thick pelvic fins instead of hovering.2
2
It is the only species in its genus.2
3
Wild pairs are monogamous and spawn in open water.1
4
When threatened, it slips deep into the branches of its favourite corals.2

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2015)1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Flame Hawkfish. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Salinity checkevery week
Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
Water testevery week
Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
Glass cleanevery week

Start a free diary

Longnose Hawkfish

Flame Angelfish

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FishBase: Neocirrhites armatus, Flame hawkfish fishbase.seused for length, distribution, depth, temperature, diet, mating, IUCN status, describer
Wikipedia: Flame hawkfish en.wikipedia.orgused for colour description, anatomy, habitat, perching, history, etymology
LiveAquaria: Flame Hawkfish liveaquaria.comused for aquarium care, tank size, temperament, tankmates, diet

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.