Saltwater Fish
Long-nosed Hawkfish.
Lacking a swim bladder, hawkfish do not hover in open water and instead perch on rocks and coral branches, watching with their elongated snout before darting out to ambush prey.
We keep this species at our Erie store. Come and see it in the tanks, or call (814) 456-9445 and ask what we have in right now.
Sea Cave keeps this species. You will find these in the tanks at 660 East 14th Street in Erie. We never ship live animals.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
We never ship fish, coral, or invertebrates — every animal here is one you meet in person. Each one is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it goes out into the display tanks. This is a species we keep, and what is swimming on any given day changes with the deliveries, so please call (814) 456-9445 before you drive in.
Care at a glance
What to know before you take one home.
- Temperament
- Semi aggressive
- Adult size
- 5"
- Min tank size
- 30 gallons
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Scientific name
- Oxycirrhites typus
Good tank mates
The long-nosed hawkfish is a bold predator that will eat small shrimp, tiny fish, and ornamental crustaceans, so do not house it with cleaner shrimp, sexy shrimp, or fish small enough to swallow. It does well with similarly sized or larger active fish like tangs, larger wrasses, and dwarf angels that can hold their own. It is generally safe with corals but should be considered a hunter of mobile inverts rather than a true community fish.
Good to know
Lacking a swim bladder, hawkfish do not hover in open water and instead perch on rocks and coral branches, watching with their elongated snout before darting out to ambush prey.
What is in the tanks and each animal's temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice.
Good tankmates
Plays well with.
Species we’d keep in the same tank, with why each pairing works. What is in the tanks and each animal’s temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for advice on pairing.
New to stocking a tank? Read our guide on which fish live together.
Longfin Mocha Clownfish
Bold, mid-sized, and territory-holding — clownfish are consistently listed as compatible across multiple care guides. Their size (3–5 in.) puts them safely above hawkfish predation range, and their assertive territorial behavior means they are not intimidated by a semi-aggressive perching fish.
Yellow Tang
Tangs are explicitly confirmed as compatible. At up to 8 inches and with active, open-water swimming behavior, Yellow Tangs are entirely outside the hawkfish's predation window and do not compete for the same micro-territory (perch vs. open water).
- F
Flame Angelfish
Dwarf angelfish are explicitly recommended as compatible with the Longnose Hawkfish. The Flame Angel reaches ~4 in. — large enough not to be prey — and its semi-aggressive disposition is a functional match. Both species occupy different tank niches (angelfish roams rock faces; hawkfish perches statically), reducing direct competition.
- B
Blue Devil Damselfish
Damsels are listed as compatible on the sourced care guide, and independent research on the species confirms that hawkfish cohabitation is viable: the hawkfish's sedentary perching behavior falls outside typical damselfish territorial triggers. The damsel's boldness also means it will not be stressed or displaced by the hawkfish's semi-aggressive posturing.
Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed. Call ahead on livestock — what's on the floor rotates.