Fun Hawaiian Squirrelfish Facts For Kids

The Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) is a beautiful fish found in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii and Johnston Atoll. It is a commonly found fish that can be the perfect addition to any aquarium or tank. It is a type of squirrelfish, which are characterized by large eyes, and red and white colors on their body. This squirrelfish is nocturnal, like many species of its Genus, which means it is only active during the night to forage and feed on marine invertebrates, which form a big part of its diet. In the day, they will be seen peeking out from behind their hiding places in a cave or rock. It is also called the striped squirrelfish because of its prominent red and white stripes. These fish are often confused with another species of squirrelfish that belongs to the same Genus Sargocentron, called the crowned squirrelfish (Sargocentron diadema), because of their extremely similar appearance.If you want to learn more about other fish, check out our rockmover wrasse facts and pumpkinseed sunfish facts pages.

What do they prey on? Crustaceans, marine worms, starfish

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? N/A

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 6.5-7 in (16.5-17.7 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Red, white, orange

Skin Type Rough scales

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Seaward And Coral Reefs

Locations Hawaiian Islands

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Sargocentron

Class Actinopterygii

Family Holocentridae

Hawaiian Squirrelfish Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a Hawaiian squirrelfish?The Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) is a type of fish.What class of animal does a Hawaiian squirrelfish belong to?The Hawaiian squirrelfish belongs to the class Actinopterygii, the family Holocentridae, and the genus Sargocentron.How many Hawaiian squirrelfish are there in the world?Although the exact number of Hawaiian squirrelfish is not known, these fish are found in large numbers within their range and are one of the most commonly found fish in the area.Where does a Hawaiian squirrelfish live?This species of squirrelfish are found in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii, and the Johnston Atoll. These fish are not generally found anywhere else in the world. They can be found till 197 ft (60 m) deep in the sea.What is a Hawaiian squirrelfish’s habitat?In the wild, the Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) mostly inhabit seaward reefs that are close to the shore. These fish can be usually found near caves and ledges.When they are to be taken in as a pet, they should be put in a tank or aquarium that can hold at least 70-75 gal (265-284 l) and contains plenty of spaces to hide such as a live rock structure. Their aquarium should not be lit brightly as these fish tend to hide, and are only used to coming out of their hiding places at night. The tanks of these squirrelfish should have strong water circulation to accommodate their active swimming behavior.Who does Hawaiian squirrelfish live with?The Hawaiian squirrelfish are schooling fish, which means that they will form a group to swim around the sea together. It can also be put in an aquarium together with its own species, although it will require a much bigger tank to host more squirrelfish. They can also be put in an aquarium with other species of fish, given that they are non-aggressive, and more than or equal to their size, as these squirrelfish tend to feed on smaller fish. Some suitable companions for the striped squirrelfish can be clownfish, hawkfish, batfish, angelfish, and tangs.How long does a Hawaiian squirrelfish live?The Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) has a lifespan of about two to four years.How do they reproduce?These red and white striped squirrelfish reproduce by external fertilization and have pelagic eggs, which means that they float in the open water until they hatch, and are not protected by their parents.What is their conservation status?The Hawaiian squirrelfish are found abundantly within their geographical range. Thus, they have been listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.Hawaiian Squirrelfish Fun FactsWhat do Hawaiian squirrelfish look like?The Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) is bright red in color with 10 or so horizontal, silvery-white stripes on its body. It has rough scales, and especially rough gill spines, which are often caught up in the fishing net. The fish has a bright red or vermillion dorsal fin with white-tipped spines. This fish also has two diagonal stripes on its head, one that runs from its eye to the base of the gill, and another that goes from its mouth to the gill. These horizontal and diagonal stripes are present in the crowned squirrelfish as well, which makes their identification difficult.How cute are they?These red and white squirrelfish can be considered somewhat cute. Though their dorsal spikes may look intimidating to other fish, they shouldn’t cause any fear in us!How do they communicate?The striped squirrelfish make clicking noises and grunts, that resemble a squirrel’s noises. They make these noises by vibrating their swim bladders and are known to make these sounds when in danger.How big is a Hawaiian squirrelfish?A Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) is not a very large fish and can have a body length of 6.5-7 in (16.5-17.7 cm). They are just a few inches bigger than the size of an average spotted catfish.How fast can a Hawaiian squirrelfish swim?The exact swimming speed of the striped squirrelfish is not known but they are generally seen swimming at a high speed and thus, need a large aquarium with a strong water flow to imitate their marine habitat.How much does a Hawaiian squirrelfish weigh?There is not sufficient data available regarding the weight of this species of fish.What are the male and female names of the species?There are no special names for the male and female fish of this species.What would you call a baby Hawaiian squirrelfish?There are no known names for a baby squirrelfish. However, in general, some baby fish can be referred to as fry.What do they eat?In the wild, the Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) usually feed on invertebrates such as crustaceans, which include crabs, shrimp, starfish, and marine worms. They are nocturnal and hence, only feed in the night.In an aquarium, their diet can be weaned onto a variety of marine food like frozen mysid or brine shrimp, and other frozen food meant for carnivorous fish. These fish also have the tendency to feed on any fish present in the tank that is small and can fit in their mouth.Are they dangerous?These squirrelfish have very sharp and rough scales that can get caught in a fishing net and can also harm someone handling them. However, they are not poisonous or toxic to human beings, and will only sting or cause sharp pain.Would they make a good pet?This species of squirrelfish can be an excellent fit in almost any kind of aquarium but care should be taken regarding their tankmates, diet, lighting, and water quality. They should have ample space to swim around and rock structures should be provided as they are used to hiding behind them during the day.Did you know…Due to their nocturnal behavior, the large eyes of these red and white striped squirrelfish have evolved to help them easily spot crustaceans and other marine invertebrates in the wild, that are present around a coral or seaward reef, even in low lighting.Is the Hawaiian squirrelfish endemic?Yes, the Hawaiian squirrelfish are endemic to Hawaii. These fish are only found in this region and nowhere else in the world.Can you eat Hawaiian squirrelfish?Yes, striped squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) can surely be eaten. It has an average taste and is firm and meaty.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish from our milkfish facts and walleye fish facts for kids.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Hawaiian squirrelfish coloring pages.

What type of animal is a Hawaiian squirrelfish?

The Hawaiian squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) is a type of fish.

Fun Hawaiian Squirrelfish Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Crustaceans, marine worms, starfish

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? N/A

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 6.5-7 in (16.5-17.7 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Red, white, orange

Skin Type Rough scales

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Seaward And Coral Reefs

Locations Hawaiian Islands

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Sargocentron

Class Actinopterygii

Family Holocentridae

Fun Hawaiian Squirrelfish Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Crustaceans, marine worms, starfish

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? N/A

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 6.5-7 in (16.5-17.7 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Red, white, orange

Skin Type Rough scales

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Seaward And Coral Reefs

Locations Hawaiian Islands

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Sargocentron

Class Actinopterygii

Family Holocentridae

Fun Hawaiian Squirrelfish Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Crustaceans, marine worms, starfish

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? N/A

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 6.5-7 in (16.5-17.7 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Red, white, orange

Skin Type Rough scales

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Seaward And Coral Reefs

Locations Hawaiian Islands

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Sargocentron

Class Actinopterygii

Family Holocentridae