Cirrhitus rivulatus (Giant hawkfish)

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Facts

Latin name	Cirrhitus rivulatus - Valenciennes, 1846
Local name	Giant hawkfish
Family	Cirrhitidae - Cirrhitus
Origin	East Pacific
Max length	60 cm (23.6")

As aquarium fish

Minimum volume	600 l (158 gal)
Hardiness	Hardy
Suitable for aquarium	Suitable with care
Reef safe	Reef safe with caution
Aggressiveness	Might be aggressive towards other species

Feed

Recommended	Fish Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...) Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)

Can be a threat to small fish

This spicies might be a threat to smaller fishes.

Threat towards crustaceans

This species poses a threat towards shrimps and crabs etc., which are relatively small.

Thrive best on their own

These fish flourish better without other members of the same species in the aquarium.

Hiding places

This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.

Nocturnal

This species is nocturnal and therefore the most active when the light is dimmed or turned off.

Family description (Cirrhitidae)

Hawkfish stay still and wait for food most of the time, they are therefore suitable for smaller aquaria.

One must be aware that Hawkfishes can be very aggressive.

Very aggressive genera
The very aggressive species will sometimes attack many different types of fish, even the ones that are larger than themselves.

Cirrhitops
Cirrhitus
Paracirrhtes

Semi aggressive genera
The semi aggressive species are most threatening towards fish whose behaviour mimcks their own, and fish which are introduced after they have settled in.

Cirrhitichthys

Less aggressive genera
The less aggressive species are rarely threatening towards fish that which do not resemble them.

Cyprinocirrhites
Neocirrhites
Oxycirrhites

Larger Hawkfishes might eat small fish, shrimps etc. in the aquarium. Species of the Cyprinocirrhites and Neocirrhites genera are least likely to eat shrimps etc.

Hawkfish do not place many demands on their surroundings or water quality, as they are fairly hardy.

It is possible to keep several Hawkfish together, but sometimes they will suddenly begin to fight after some time in the aquarium.
This may be due to them changing gender so one can end up with two males.

FishBase

Aquarium trade	No
Distribution	Eastern Central Pacific: Gulf of California to northern Colombia and the Galapagos Islands.
Danish common names	Stor falkefisk

References and further reading

About references

Scott W. Michael. 2001. Basslets, Dottybacks & Hawkfishes: v. 2 (Reef Fishes) - TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)
James W. Fatherree. The Hawkfishes - Reefs Magazine - (English)
Bob Fenner. Hawkfishes, Family Cirrhitidae Part I, Part II, Part III - Wet Web Media - (English)