Amblycirrhitus pinos

Amblycirrhitus pinos, commonly known as the Redspotted hawkfish, is a small/medium-sized hawkfish. This is a quite variable species. They've a cream to greenish base colour with greenish, brown or almost black vertical bars. Their fins are usually a little pinkish with especially the caudal fin and last part of the dorsal fin being very pink to purple in some individuals. Some fish also have a very green head. The dorsal fin and head are covered in small bright red spots and in some individuals almost their entire body is spotted.

These fish usually pick one or a few spots between or on rocks or corals where they observe the aquarium. They usually live solitary and we recommend to only keep one hawkfish in a tank, unless a proven pair can be found, because they can be very aggressive towards other hawkfishes if not enough hiding spaces are available. Most other fishes are ignored, but do watch out with small docile species though. In nature their main diet consists of crustaceans, but they also occasionally grab a bristleworm. They're not shy at all and will eat about any meaty food (preferable crustaceans like copepods, mysis, and gammarus) you offer. They can even be hand-fed after a short while in the tank. Except for resting on a coral, which some corals can't handle, they're reef safe, but do watch out with shrimps and crabs that fit their mouth!