Arc Eye Hawkfish - Paracirrhites arcatus

Medium (2-3")

$49.99

Hawkfish Reef Safe Caution

$49.99

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Goes well with:

Diet

Pellets Mysis Finely Chopped Seafood

Min Tank Size 75 gallons

Temperament Semi-Aggressive

Reef Safe With Caution

Care & Diet Feeding, nutrition, and best practices.

Diet Type: Carnivore

Arc Eye Hawkfish are carnivorous and require a protein-rich diet. Feed them a variety of meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, krill, and finely chopped seafood. They can also be offered high-quality marine pellets or flakes formulated for carnivores. Feed them once or twice daily, ensuring they consume the food within a few minutes to prevent water quality issues. It's important to vary their diet to ensure they receive all necessary nutrients and to keep them engaged.

Pellets Mysis Finely Chopped Seafood

Behavior Temperament, activity level, and interactions.

Temperament: Semi-Aggressive

Arc Eye Hawkfish are mostly sedentary, often perching on coral or rock ledges. They are solitary and territorial, defending their chosen area aggressively. These fish are known for their ambush hunting style, remaining still before darting out to capture prey. They are best kept with similarly sized, non-aggressive tank mates, as they may bully smaller, more timid fish. Arc Eye Hawkfish tend to be more active during daylight hours, displaying bursts of energy while exploring their territory.

Tank & Aquascape Tank requirements and aquascaping tips.

Min Tank Size: 75 gallons
Max Size: 8 inches
Care Level: Moderate
Origin: Fiji

Compatibility Tank mates, aggression, and introduction order.

Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Reef Safe: With Caution

Hawkfish Reef Safe Carnivore

Reef & Health Reef safety, common issues, and prevention.

Reef Safe: With Caution
Care Level: Moderate

FAQs Answers to the most common questions.

Can Arc Eye Hawkfish safely be kept with ornamental shrimp and small crabs, or will they always view them as food?

Arc Eye Hawkfish are highly likely to prey on ornamental shrimp (cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp, sexy shrimp) and very small crabs, especially once the hawkfish is settled and confident in the tank. Their hunting style is to perch and watch, then dart quickly at moving invertebrates. While some hobbyists report temporary success with larger, established cleaner shrimp in big tanks (90+ gallons with lots of rock), long-term survival of shrimp is unreliable. If you want to keep shrimp and crabs as display animals rather than food, it is best to avoid Arc Eye Hawkfish or accept that losses are very possible. Snails, urchins, and larger crabs are generally much safer.

How much rockwork and perch space does an Arc Eye Hawkfish need, and does the rock layout affect its behavior?

Arc Eye Hawkfish strongly prefer a tank with complex rock structures and multiple “step-like” levels where they can perch and watch the tank. They are not big swimmers; instead, they hop from perch to perch. A minimum of several solid ledges at different heights, plus a main vantage point near the center-front of the tank, will help them feel secure and display natural behavior. If the rock structure is too sparse or flat, the fish can become more skittish, hide more often, and may channel its energy into increased aggression toward tankmates. Caves and overhangs are helpful so they can retreat quickly. In nano systems, vertical rock stacks with at least 3–4 distinct perching spots are ideal.

Do Arc Eye Hawkfish change color or markings when stressed or at night, and how can I tell if the fish is healthy versus stressed?

Arc Eye Hawkfish keep their overall orange-red body and distinctive blue “arc” through the eye, but their coloration can dull slightly at night or when startled, appearing more brownish or muted. A healthy fish will: perch upright with fins spread normally, show interest in food, and frequently scan the surroundings. Signs of stress include clamped fins, breathing rapidly while staying in one spot, very pale body color, or staying hidden for long periods even when food is added. If the arc marking and body stripes look noticeably faded during normal lighting hours, check for bullying tankmates, sudden lighting changes, poor water quality (especially elevated ammonia or nitrite), or lack of suitable perches making it feel exposed.

What is the best feeding regimen for an Arc Eye Hawkfish in a reef tank, and how do I keep it from becoming too aggressive at feeding time?

Arc Eye Hawkfish are carnivores and do best on a varied diet of small meaty foods: mysis shrimp, finely chopped krill, marine fish flesh, enriched brine shrimp, and quality marine carnivore pellets. Feed small portions 1–2 times daily; they are opportunistic and will overeat if you allow. To reduce aggression during feeding, use a turkey baster or target-feeding tool to spread food around the tank, so other fish get some first, then direct a portion toward the hawkfish’s perch. Avoid dropping all of the food in one spot, which trains the hawkfish to charge aggressively into the feeding area. Over several weeks, consistent feeding at the same time and location teaches it to wait in its usual perch instead of harassing more timid tankmates.

How aggressive are Arc Eye Hawkfish toward new fish additions, and is there a strategy to introduce new tankmates without constant chasing?

Arc Eye Hawkfish can be territorial, especially once they have claimed a favorite perch and have been established in the tank for a while. They are most likely to harass similarly sized, perch-loving fish (small gobies, blennies, and other hawkfish) and very passive species. To introduce new fish more safely, rearrange a portion of the rockwork right before adding the newcomer so territories are “reset.” Use an acclimation box or clear breeder box to float the new fish inside the display for a day or two; this lets both fish see each other while protected. Feed lightly near the box to create a positive association. If the Arc Eye spends all its time flaring and lunging at the box, extend the acclimation period and consider more rockwork changes. Once released, closely monitor interactions for a few days. Very persistent, damaging aggression may require removing the hawkfish and reintroducing it last.

Arc Eye Hawkfish – Paracirrhites arcatus

The Arc Eye Hawkfish is a distinctive saltwater fish named for the vivid horseshoe-shaped marking that curves behind each eye. Its coloration varies from warm reddish brown to pale pink or tan, often with a broad white stripe along the rear half of the body. Bright orange markings on the gill covers and small tassels at the tips of the dorsal spines complete its highly detailed appearance.

Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific, Paracirrhites arcatus ranges from East Africa across the Pacific to Hawaii and the Pitcairn region, north to southern Japan and south to Australia. It inhabits coastal lagoons and seaward reefs, where it typically rests on branching corals and elevated reef structures while watching for prey. The species can reach approximately 8 inches in total length.

Its alert expression, unusual perching behavior, and bold personality make the Arc Eye Hawkfish an engaging addition to a fish-only aquarium or carefully planned reef aquarium. It generally leaves healthy corals alone, but its natural diet includes shrimp, crabs, other crustaceans, and small fish. For this reason, it is best suited to aquariums with robust tankmates and without small ornamental invertebrates.

Quick Care Guide

Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Reef Safe: With Caution
Region: Indo-Pacific
Scientific Name: Paracirrhites arcatus

Tank Requirements

Provide a mature aquarium with substantial live rock arranged into ledges, caves, overhangs, and elevated lookout points. The Arc Eye Hawkfish spends much of its time resting on rockwork or coral branches before making short, rapid movements to capture food or defend its territory. Stable perches throughout the aquarium encourage natural behavior and allow the fish to remain visible.

Leave open swimming routes between the rock structures and provide a secure cave for nighttime shelter. A sand or fine-gravel substrate is suitable, although this species has no specialized substrate requirement. Moderate, well-distributed water movement and strong oxygenation are appropriate.

Use a fitted lid or secure mesh cover, as hawkfish may jump when startled or during territorial disputes. Corals and rock structures should be securely mounted because a full-grown specimen may dislodge loose fragments while moving between perches.

Diet and Feeding

The Arc Eye Hawkfish is a predatory carnivore that naturally feeds primarily on shrimp, crabs, other crustaceans, and small fish. Its typical hunting strategy involves remaining motionless on an elevated perch before darting rapidly toward passing prey.

Offer a varied selection of mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, chopped clam or mussel, krill, chopped shrimp, squid, and quality frozen marine carnivore blends. Appropriately sized sinking or slow-sinking pellets may also be accepted once the fish becomes established.

Feed one or two small meals daily. Allow some food to drift near the fish’s preferred lookout points, particularly during acclimation. Live feeder fish are unnecessary and should not be required for a healthy captive diet.

Temperament and Tankmates

This hawkfish is confident, territorial, and capable of becoming aggressive toward newly introduced fish. It may defend a favored cave or perch and is especially likely to challenge other hawkfish, similarly shaped bottom-dwelling species, or fish competing for the same territory. It is usually best maintained singly.

Suitable tankmates include tangs, rabbitfish, medium-sized angelfish, larger clownfish, robust wrasses, butterflyfish, and other marine fish too large to be swallowed. Avoid timid species that may be intimidated or repeatedly displaced from feeding areas.

Very small gobies, juvenile fish, ornamental shrimp, and small crabs may be hunted. Introduce peaceful or shy fish before the hawkfish whenever possible, and monitor all new additions for territorial chasing.

Reef Compatibility

The Arc Eye Hawkfish is reef safe with caution. It does not normally consume healthy stony corals, soft corals, zoanthids, or clams. The primary reef concern is predation on mobile animals rather than direct coral feeding.

Cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp, small crabs, and other ornamental crustaceans may be eaten, particularly when they are small enough to fit in the fish’s mouth. Tiny fish are also at risk. Larger established shrimp may occasionally coexist with an individual hawkfish, but they should not be considered reliably safe.

Frequent perching on coral colonies is normal. Although it usually causes no lasting damage, the fish may irritate delicate corals or shift unsecured fragments as it moves between lookout points.

Water Parameters

Temperature: 75–80°F
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Maintain consistent salinity, good oxygenation, and low levels of accumulated waste. Stable water quality is more important than repeatedly adjusting the aquarium to reach one exact measurement.

Common Considerations

Predatory toward small animals: Ornamental shrimp, small crabs, and very small fish may be consumed.
Expect territorial behavior: Established specimens may harass new additions or other perch-dwelling fish.
Provide elevated perches: Rock ledges and branching structures support its natural ambush behavior.
Keep one in most aquariums: Multiple hawkfish may fight unless the system is exceptionally spacious and carefully arranged.
Use a secure cover: Sudden chasing or startling can cause the fish to jump.