🐠 Freckled Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri)
A Multi-Stage Colour Transformation With Constant Facial Freckles • One of the More Assertive, Predatory Hawkfish • A Fish-Only Species for Advanced Keepers
 
📋 The Freckled Hawkfish, also known as Forster's Hawkfish or Blackside Hawkfish, undergoes a striking multi-stage colour transformation throughout its life, juveniles are burgundy with a yellow tail, while adults may appear pink, brown, or olive. The black or red freckles across its cheeks and face remain constant throughout every life stage.
It comes from a wide range across the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, Maldives, Indonesia, and Australia, inhabiting rocky and coral reef environments with strong current, perching on rock or coral to watch for passing prey. Every Freckled Hawkfish we ship is feeding well.
This species is one of the more assertive, predatory hawkfish in the trade, and will eat small fish, ornamental shrimp (including cleaner shrimp), tubeworms, snails, and crabs. It should only be housed with larger, robust tankmates such as dottybacks, large angelfish, surgeonfish, or triggerfish, and should be the very last fish added to your tank to reduce territorial conflict. It's not reef safe, and will defend its preferred perching spot even against much larger fish. Adults lack a swim bladder, relying on strong pelvic fins to support themselves while perched. It's disease-resistant and hardy once properly housed, but only one specimen should be kept per tank. It reaches up to 22.5cm, so a 280L tank suits it well.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 Multi-Stage Colour Transformation: Burgundy-yellow juvenile to pink, brown, or olive adult
🔴 Constant Facial Freckles: Black or red spots remain throughout every life stage
⚠️ One of the More Assertive Hawkfish: Best suited to a fish-only system with robust tankmates
🚫 Not Reef Safe: Will eat small fish, cleaner shrimp, tubeworms, snails, and crabs
💪 Hardy: Disease-resistant once properly housed