Hawkfish and cleaner shrimp

[ReeferAl]

I have often heard that hawkfish "may prey on small decorative shrimp" and that they "are not safe with anything that can fit in their mouth".

I recently added a small to medium flame hawk to my tank. I had 2 blood red cleaner shrimp and 2 skunk cleaner shrimp. All were basically adult size. A week after adding the hawk I was unable to find the blood shrimp, but that is not that unusual as they often hide. A couple days ago I came home to find the hawk chasing one of the skunk cleaners around. It is the one some people have said "that's the biggest cleaner shrimp I've ever seen" when they see my tank. While I was watching, the hawk attacked and ripped off a leg. When I then looked closer I saw that the shrimp was missing an eye and had a couple of bight marks out of his side. I removed the shrimp but it died shortly after. At the moment only 1 shrimp remains and I have been unable to catch it.

The lesson is that hawkfish attacks are not limited by the size of the prey. They may attack any shrimp, regardless of size.

Allen

 

[hawaiianwargod]

Allen,

I guess Hawkfish would be categorize as "hit or miss" in the reef tank. I had my Hawk for almost two years now and he is a model citizen so far. I make sure he is well fed and the irony is this fish hangs out where the 3 cleaner shrimps resides. The only issue I have is my Sixline wrass harrass the Hawk whenever he is out in the open.

 

[evan matthews]

My Hawkfish destroyed my blood shrimp and like 3 cleaner shrimp. He doesn't mess w/ my coral bandit though.

 

[kttsf]

Thanks for the post. I was going to take my chances of adding a hawkfish. I was afraid that it will go after my cleaner shrimp but I was telling myself that shrimps are quite big. I am glad I didn't buy the hawkfish yet. Eventhough I know a friend who has a flame hawkfish lives peacefully with the cleaner shrimps for years.

 

[reefinmike]

my hawk does well with my cleaners, the cleaners annoy him trying to constantly clean his mouth. however i did add 3 peppermints which were food very very quickly

 

[rustybucket145]

My Falco Hawk has eaten several peppermints, a coral banded and even an arrow crab. So needless to say, no more things with long skinny leggs.