longnose hawkfish

[snorvich]

I've heard that... My main hesitation on the hawks is what I've read about killing smaller fish, not sure if that's considered normal behavior though.

It is normal behavior for all ambush predators of that ilk. The other type of ambush predators (such as Rhinopias, frogfish, lionfish, etc) actually "inhale their prey" whereas hawkfish chomp down on them.

 

[Ambition]

It is normal behavior for all ambush predators of that ilk. The other type of ambush predators (such as Rhinopias, frogfish, lionfish, etc) actually "inhale their prey" whereas hawkfish chomp down on them.

I am planning on a pair of firefish, would they be big enough to avoid being a meal with a longnose hawkfish pair?

 

[HPark]

I am planning on a pair of firefish, would they be big enough to avoid being a meal with a longnose hawkfish pair?

I would think it would be fine. I have a pair of longnose and the female (?) is one of the biggest specimens I've ever seen pushing over 4 inches and close to 5. My pair is being QT'd with a 1/2" size yellow watchman goby and I have not witnessed any aggression.

 

[snorvich]

I am planning on a pair of firefish, would they be big enough to avoid being a meal with a longnose hawkfish pair?

To me that is unclear. Normally hawkfish are "perch" ambush predators whereas firefish (a pair probably is not long term viable, however) tend to be lower in the water column. If you have shallow rock work, I would be leery.

 

[Nina51]

Love your pair Nina. I've been on the fence about getting a couple for a while now...

maybe wait till we see how johnike and peter do with their pairs? i have had absolutely zero aggression in my tank. none whatsoever, and i added the mccosker's wrasse after both hawkfish.

The Red Flame Hawkfish are also a lot of fun . . .

i've heard the flame hawks can be harder on shrimp but i don't know this for a fact. i think johnike has a flame hawk in with a whole bunch of peps.

So Nina what are you charging for the show & do we have to bring our own beer & pizza? I wonder if the shrimp is in the tank first if that keeps them from being bothered by the hawkfish. Sexies are just so little, I worry about my fire shrimp pushing them around too. I put him in first since he was so little & now he's boss shrimp of the tank.

I probably wouldn't be as much fun, but I'd have more $ for craft beer. I'm a hard sell as it is with a horse, the fish are icing on the cake. Instead of a little old lady in a house full of cats it's going to be filled with fish, parrots, & dogs oh my!

admission is a 6 pack of beerz! i figure if i get enough people here, i won't hafta buy beer for a yeer.

fish, parrots and dogs. well, i've been called the crazy dog lady (2 danes) who has pigs (4 pot bellies) and lotsa fish. wonder which one of us is crazier? oh wait, you have a horse? i am horseless after 35 years of chasing road apples! that makes you the winner!

I am planning on a pair of firefish, would they be big enough to avoid being a meal with a longnose hawkfish pair?

kyle, i put my wrasse in the tank after both hawkfish had been in there for several weeks. body shape/size of the wrasse (when he isn't flashing) would be comparable to a firefish. i would think if you get a small hawkfish, you would probably be ok, even as it grows. that's just my experience. i also have a royal gramma and there's no problem there, either.

 

[jco1856]

My two longnose hawks have been doing great in my 56. No signs of any aggession towards any tankmates. My larger original hawk was in a 29 gallon tank with a gold coral banded shrimp that it never bothered.

 

[SDguy]

Aww, man, just found the large one dead in QT So weird... it was a trade in from another LFS customer. All the other fish in QT, including the smaller hawk, are fine, begging for food.

 

[Nina51]

oh no, peter!! nina haz a sad

you gonna try another one?

 

[SDguy]

Not sure... I'll be at the LFS picking up my live blackworms today, so I'll see what they can do for me.

 

[Nina51]

wonder if the other guy knew there was something wrong with it. i hope they will have another one for you. they are just so cute together!

 

[SDguy]

Apparently it's me, since I just pulled the body of the little guy I've never actually kept hawkfish before, but I didn't think they were delicate. The other fish in the QT, are fine...

 

[HPark]

Bummer! Mine (from DD) are still in QT. Were you dosing anything when they passed? Just about to push them through the first round of prazi.

I love my pair -- meet me at the top of the tank during feeding time.

 

[SDguy]

Yes... cupramine when the first one passed. Prazi when the second one past, but honestly the second one stopped eating days before the prazi started. Something like a baby xanthurus angel that I would think would be much more delicate is also in the QT, doing well.

 

[HPark]

Sorry to hear that -- gotta be frustrating. I will report back after prazi with how they do.

 

[Nina51]

i'm really bummed for you, peter. i've not known them to be particularly delicate fish but my experience is very limited. glad to know your others are doing well in qt.