Lyretail Hawkfish (Cyprinocirrhites polyactis)
Fish in the family Cirrhitidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe.
Quick facts
Appearance
The Lyretail Hawkfish is a small, strikingly patterned fish with a reddish-orange body marked with white spots and bands. The dorsal fin is notably elongated and lyrate (lyre-shaped), and the pectoral fins are enlarged with feathery cirri (tentacle-like filaments) on the rays. The color pattern provides excellent camouflage on coral rubble habitats.
Diet and feeding
Feed a varied diet of small crustaceans and meaty foods including copepods, amphipods, small mysis shrimp, and frozen zooplankton. In captivity they may accept high-quality prepared foods but thrive best with frequent offerings of live or frozen micro-crustaceans.
Difficulty and care for the Lyretail Hawkfish
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Common health issues
Marine ich, Fin Rot, Swim Bladder Disorder, White Spot Disease, Columnaris
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea eastward to the Hawaiian Islands and Great Barrier Reef, typically found on deep coral reefs and steep slopes at depths of 40–200 meters.
Log Lyretail Hawkfish in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Lyretail Hawkfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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