Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish – Complete Care Guide

The Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish is a unique-looking saltwater fish. It is bulky, has a long dorsal fin about halfway through its body, and is equipped with a big mouth for catching prey. It is primarily orange in color with white streaks throughout. The Pygmy Hawkfish grows to about 2″, which makes it a fantastic choice for a smaller aquarium. It can be elusive and will spend much time hiding out, but seeing this fish exploring or perching on rockwork and coral is always a thrill. This guide will discuss the general care of the Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish. I’ll discuss its aquarium needs, dietary requirements, compatible tank mates, and more.

This fish will do great in aquariums that are 20 gallons or larger. It’s an excellent option for nano fish tanks. I highly recommend providing an assortment of live rock for the Geometric Pygmy Hawk. It will use it as a perch while waiting for food. It also uses the rockwork as a hideout at night and when startled. A well-fitted lid is recommended for hawkfish because they are likely to dart out of the fish tank.

Are Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish Reef Safe?

The Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish is reef-compatible. It will not bother large shrimp, snails, crabs, and other invertebrates. It will only annoy coral if it decides to perch on it, otherwise the Pygmy Hawk will not bother coral. I haven’t had problems with Pygmy Hawkfish in a reef tank. The only invertebrates I would avoid keeping with Pygmy Hawks are small ornamental shrimp such as Sexy Shrimp and Harlequin Shrimp. Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish are carnivores, and small inverts are food to them.

Keeping water parameters stable and within an appropriate range is important to the success of a saltwater aquarium. Saltwater fish tanks are much less forgiving to water parameter swings compared to freshwater fish tanks. To keep a Pygmy Hawk happy, your aquarium should have the following water parameters. The temperature should be between 72 – 78°F (22.2 – 25.6°C). The dKH level should be anywhere between 8 and 12. Your aquarium will do best with pH levels between 8.1 and 8.4. Finally, the salinity level in your fish tank will need to be between 1.020 and 1.024 sg to keep your Pygmy Hawkfish happy.

This fish species is carnivorous. They’ll likely hunt for microorganisms in the fish tank, but that’s not enough to sustain them long-term. It’s best to feed them Mysis Shrimp, Brine Shrimp, and other small protein-rich food when they’re small. I have seen Pygmy Hawkfish devour pieces of krill without issue once they get larger. Besides that, they should readily take flake and pellet food as well.

Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish are fantastic fish to keep with many peaceful marine fish. They usually keep to themselves but are willing to scare other fish away from their territory. I have seen them do great with Blennies, Chromis, Clownfish, Dwarf Angels, Firefish, Foxface, Gobies, Wrasses, and an assortment of other saltwater fish. You can’t go wrong keeping the Pygmy Hawkfish with a variety of inhabitants.

I’d recommend keeping them away from fish that can eat the Pygmy Hawkfish, so large predatory fish are likely not an option. Also, fish that occupy the same space in the aquarium (ex. Other hawkfish) should be avoided due to potential territorial disputes and aggression.

Because of their aggression toward one another, I do not recommend keeping more than one Geometric Pygmy Hawk in the same enclosure. This makes breeding in a fish tank impossible.

The Pygmy Hawkfish are great additions to a saltwater aquarium. They’re most fun to watch during feeding time. You’ll be feeding your aquarium krill, and you’ll see a blurry orange and white flash coming out of the rockwork. The other fish don’t expect it, and it startles everyone in the fish tank. It’s always a great experience seeing this unfold. Once the hawkfish gets its food, it finds a spot to perch or hide and eats it. If you’re setting up a saltwater fish tank, consider adding one of these fish to your collection.