Flame hawkfish

[Potatohead]

So, I really want one. I saw one in a video a week or so ago, and fell in love with how clumsy and hilarious it is. I currently have an SPS dominated 36g bowfront with an azure damsel, two ocellaris, a six-line, and some snails and a few hermits. Most really successful SPS tanks I see are packed with fish.

I went to my LFS this weekend and they had one... It took so much will power to not buy it. The only thing holding me back is I added some corals a couple weeks ago and I just want to be 100% sure there's no aiptasia or anything because the only thing I can really do in that case is peppermint shrimp, which this fish is just going to eat. It's kind of a long shot and maybe a dumb thing to worry about, but I'm pretty good at finding stupid things to worry about :headwallblue: .

Is there anything else to know about these guys? Will they likely take out small hermits too?

 

[scooter31707]

Well your additions should be quarantined. They do have the chance of become aggressive.

 

[starkii]

Some people do lose smaller clean up crew although I never did. I've heard they may suck snails and hermits out of their shells but some of this maybe boredom. I've read they are quite intelligent for a fish and this is why they get bored. Sounds strange but they have a comical character and I've witnessed them annoying other fish seemingly for fun.
whether you believe that or not they can go for cuc or they maybe fine. I think their behaviour and interest is worth it.

 

[steallife904]

I have had one for years and it got big fast. never had an issue with him eating clean up crew but he is very aggressive to any new fish I put in the tank. I normally have to shut off the lights for a day when I put a new fish in so he doesn't kill it. they are very fun fish to watch though.

 

[ThRoewer]

The flame hawks you usually see at stores are not yet large enough to swallow a fully grown Lysmata shrimp, so I would not worry too much about that. In fact I've never seen a flame hawk in captivity that was large enough to take on a full sized Lysmata shrimp.

The shrimp that may be in danger are juveniles or smaller species like sexy shrimp.

Also the fish needs to be quarantined for 2 months which should give the shrimp a decent head start.
The shrimp should be quarantined as well, but since the main concern with them are attached cysts you only need to keep them isolated until they have molded at least once in a fishless tank.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[brett559]

Love mine. A total weirdo.

I tried adding some medium sized fire shrimp about a year ago. I checked after an hour of adding them, and one of the shrimp was only half there. I immediately took the other one back to the LFS.

Not sure if it was my hawk or my mystery wrasse. I haven't tried shrimp again...

 

[matt888]

I've had one for 5 yrs. Large Peppermints and Coral Banded Shrimp are safe, but smaller Peppermints, Sexy Shrimp, etc. get gobbled up! He does leave the hermits alone. Easily the most entertaining fish in the tank. Sort of like a little muppet.

 

[Potatohead]

I think I figure out why I like them so much... With the big eyes they look like a Simpsons character... lol