Never see my Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish

[greddy1]

Hi all,
Several weeks ago I bought a geometric pygmy hawkfish. Absolutely love the color and how they stare and perch everywhere. Never saw the thing and thought it died so I bought another one. Several weeks later I saw both of them hanging out together but they rarely ever come out during the day. My friend has a regular size hawkfish that is all over the place during the day but these guys seem to be out more at night which sucks for me. Is this right for these guys? or is there something I'm doing wrong?

 

[Stumped]

Hi all,
Several weeks ago I bought a geometric pygmy hawkfish. Absolutely love the color and how they stare and perch everywhere. Never saw the thing and thought it died so I bought another one. Several weeks later I saw both of them hanging out together but they rarely ever come out during the day. My friend has a regular size hawkfish that is all over the place during the day but these guys seem to be out more at night which sucks for me. Is this right for these guys? or is there something I'm doing wrong?

They're super cryptic and easily intimidated. The name is a misnomer because they aren't actually a species of hawkfish. They are more closely related to anthias. You can Google Plectranthias inermis for more info on them and other fish of that species.

 

[greddy1]

I did read that about them being close to the anthia family. Have 3 of them in there too but again hawfish and anthias tend to be somewhat social not hiding all the time but I do see when a fish passes by them they bolt

 

[Dakota Reef]

My experience is basically the same at yours. I bought a small one through DD a year ago put it into my large mixed reef and he promptly disappeared. I see him every month or so and he looks healthy however he's just so secretive.

I've been hoping I'd see him more as he grows and gets used to the tank. But so far that hasn't been the case. I'd like to catch him and move him to a smaller tank with fewer and smaller tankmates to see if that would help.

 

[Stumped]

I did read that about them being close to the anthia family. Have 3 of them in there too but again hawfish and anthias tend to be somewhat social not hiding all the time but I do see when a fish passes by them they bolt

More closely related genetically, not necessarily in behaviour. The behaviour yours is demonstrating is similar to that of others within the same species exhibit. Chingchai has a pair or so of Plectranthias pelicieri if I'm not mistaken. If you've seen any of his videos or pictures they also seem to be quite cryptic.

My experience is basically the same at yours. I bought a small one through DD a year ago put it into my large mixed reef and he promptly disappeared. I see him every month or so and he looks healthy however he's just so secretive.

I've been hoping I'd see him more as he grows and gets used to the tank. But so far that hasn't been the case. I'd like to catch him and move him to a smaller tank with fewer and smaller tankmates to see if that would help.

I lost mine, but I had him in a small tank with a few other similarly sized fish and I really only saw him at feeding or if I looked hard for him. I think they don't ever become any bolder than that. Be glad you get to see him at least. I've got a Priolepis semidoliata in that same tank and I see him once every week or so for a split second if he mistakenly darts too far out of his cave to grab food.

 

[todd141]

I didn't see mine for more than a year - no joke. Now he hangs out in my GSP.

 

[mkbtank]

Mine also hides during the day and is always out at night.

 

[Stumped]

I didn't see mine for more than a year - no joke. Now he hangs out in my GSP.

It's a shame because I love the fish and at some point I would like to get another one, but they're fairly expensive around me (~$50 or a bit more) and it's hard to justify paying that when I know I won't see it much.

It's relegated to a short list of small, secretive fish I'd love to set up a nano for.

Edit - To be clear I mean justify paying that to put it in one of my own current setups, not in general.