Hawkfish in a reef..opinions?

[jade2122]

I was wondering what everyone's experiences have been with having various hawkfish in a reef tank. I have 2 larger shrimp, hermit crabs, and a small neon goby. Any suggestions of a suitable hawkfish that is less likely to eat those things? thanks..

 

[lifesworksataol]

flame hawk - i think thats the name of it - i have one and it seems to be well - i know 4 other people that have the same fish in there tanks and it doesnt seem to pick on anything

 

[chrisstie]

If anything they will probably pick at your inverts. If you like the way the fish looks, however there is a fish classed in the anthias family that looks very similar and stays smaller so it shouldn't pick at shrimps snails etc.

I think they call it a high fin perchlet or... sometimes a pygmy hawk but its technically in the anthias class. Very cool little guy.. hope this helps

 

[lifesworksataol]

your saying a flame hawk will pick at inverts?

 

[jade2122]

I was thinking about the spotted hawkfish, they are supposed to stay a little smaller. The flame hawks are nice looking too.

 

[Me No Nemo]

The one C is refering to is a plectranthias, also known as the Geometric Hawk fish or Highfin Perchlet. They usually get no larger than about 2-2.5 inches and are great for a reef tank as they are very colorful. Flame hawks, and the other larger hawk fish, will eat inverts and often feather dusters as well. They will sometimes also harrass and sometimes eat smaller fish. I've seen one of the Falcos eat a cleaner shrimp. Although the flames are usually named as one of the more docile of the group, they will eat inverts as they are part of their natural diets.

 

[AquaKnight]

My Mom had a terrible experience with a pixie hawk. It would eat hermits, and bossed/harnessed everything in the tank short of a yellow tang.

 

[jade2122]

I guess no hawkfish for me! I don't like the maybe situations. Marcye do you ever get the fish you were talking about? Not sure if I would be interested but if you ever had one would love to check it out. thanks all

 

[chrisstie]

Am I the only one who thinks of the 80s music and Amadeus when they hear the word Falco? ;p

 

[eliteaqua]

arc eye hawkfish they stay small and I know a couple people that have them in there reef

 

[lisaFL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10203435#post10203435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisstie
Am I the only one who thinks of the 80s music and Amadeus when they hear the word Falco? ;p

LOL... me too.

 

[paulhines]

I have an Arc-eyed hawk in a 150g reef. He's been great, no problems.

 

[tangers]

used to have a flame in my reef and absolutely loved him!! will get another one some day, unfortunately he jumped. (didn't even know they were jumpers!) so much personality. mine never bothered anything- feater dusters, snails, shrimp, crabs, etc....

 

[nauti1us]

In my all my years of reef keeping I must have had at least three flame hawks in various reef tanks and not one of them ever caused any trouble in the tank.

They have always been a perfect addition to my reef systems.

jmho,

Matt

 

[sytanek]

I just recently purchased my flamehawk, after talking to quite a few people with them, and everyone's consensus was the basically the same, keep them fed and happy, your good to go. I love him now, I can't decide if he or my onyx pair are my favorite fish.

 

[jsl6v8]

I have a flame hawkfish in one of my tanks, no problems with him yet unless something comes down into his sand, then he chases them in circles for a bit.

 

[Brazengrrl]

*sigh* mine just jumped too....................stupid fish.............._

 

[sytanek]

lol....that gsm is such a bully.

 

[deano488]

I had a pixie that was fine with all inverts except shrimp... I tried peppermint once and they were gone in minutes! Really great fish though they have a lot of personality and go crazy for ghost shrimp!