Dwarf Hawkfish with Pom-Pom Crab...

[sharkfinsean]

Hello,
I have been looking into a new fish for my 30 gallon reef tank, I this tank, I have already 2 ocellaris clowns (that's all for the fish), hermit crabs, snails, a pom pom crab, zoas/palys, sereiatapora, a torch, symphyllia, a chalice, some rics, and some red discosoma. I understand that the dwarf hawk is compatible with fish and coral. I know that hawks love to eat shrimp, if anyone could provide me with some insight on how this fish would react to a pom pom crab. If they will not get along, the whole idea of the hawk is out the window, the pom pom is my favorite invert I have ever had. As well as I don't think that a hawk would pick at a hermit or a snail.
Thanks!
~Sean

 

[Rutrag]

Is the hawkfish you're calling the dwarf hawkfish the same as the "geometric pygmy hawkfish?" (Plectranthias sp) If so, I have one, and although I very rarely see it in my 75, it hasn't bothered my cleaner shrimp or porcelain crab. I have seen a photo where one apparently ate a cleaner shrimp though. (My shrimp and crabs were in place before him, so that could be a vital point.) They are really more of an anthias than a true hawkfish.

If it's an actual hawkfish from the Cirrhitidae family, I wouldn't trust it, although I have seen some folks manage to keep the longnose and flame with shrimp on occasion.

 

[sharkfinsean]

I did some research on the Geometric Pygmy "hawkfish" its a species of anthias, I'm looking at a Cirrhitichtys falco a.k.a a dwarf hawkfish or a falco's hawkfish. I have a 30 gallon reef, which is probably not the best place for an anthias as they like to swim. I'm not worried about any shrimp, I have never had a good experience with a shrimp, they have either disappeared or started picking at my coral as well as they aren't even reef safe, they are more reef safe with caution because unless you target feed, they are going to start picking at coral. I apologize for my little tangent but have you heard any stories about the falcos hawkfish being crab safe?
Thanks
~Sean

 

[Rutrag]

I wouldn't trust a falco with your pom pom crab. Hawkfish are notorious for eating crustaceans. the crab body might be a little harder to swallow than a shrimp, however.

FWIW, while the geometric pygmy hawkfish are in the anthias family, they do not free swim like the typical anthias and tend to scoot around on the substrate. They are shaped like the true hawkfish and tend to act more like them. I don't think they get as big as a falco, but tend to hide most of the time in my experience. I see mine only a couple of times per week.

 

[Moort82]

Falco's can in my experience be naughty. Longnosed and scarlet hawks are better behaved ime and less likely to taste their tankmates. I personally wouldn't trust a falco's with anything small.

But I can recommend the geometric pygmy as above. They can be reasonably secretive but a very interesting species.