Flame hawkfish and pep. shrimp?

[techreef]

While reading about the flame hawkfish on Liveaquaria.com, i read that it can't be trusted around "small shrimp and fish." Would a 2" peppermint shrimp qualify as a "small shrimp?" I think the hawkfish grows to about 4", but I don't know/can't make out how big their mouths are, so I don't want to just buy one only to find my shrimp hanging from his mouth!

 

[landlord]

It doesn't take a large mouth to snap off legs, one by one. I would use caution. All of the peppermint shrimp I have had have been pretty shy, they couldn't defend themselves well. I've seen coral banded shrimp hold their own but never a peppermint.

FWIW --landlord

 

[techreef]

that's a good point landlord. hmm, well, there's plenty of safe wrasses that i'm interested in, and i've always liked midas blennies for the "personality fish" of the tank. thanks for your post.

 

[Tpareefer]

Nothing adds more color and personality to my tank than my red flamehawk. They are great fish and I have never had a problem with my current flamehawk or my previous one killing any shrimp. They have very small mouths. Worth the risk IMO...just keep him feed like all the other fish and he'll leave all else alone.

Good luck:smokin:

 

[seapug]

I love my 2" hawkfish but he killed my full grown skunk cleaner pair the first week I put him in. On the other hand, he doesn't bother either one of my Eviota gobies or my Yellow banded coral shrimp. Go figure...