Really want to keep a Flame Hawkfish...but...

[IUfan]

Looking for some information from current Flame Hawkfish keepers, to help me make a decision.

As the title says, I have always loved the Flame Hawkfish, find hawkfish very interesting in general, as I have heard that they are very fun to watch.

I have a tight fitting lid so not worried about them jumping.

What's always stopped me in the past is the fear of it eating shrimp and small fish.

I have 2 coral banded shrimp, couple of pistol shrimp, 2 cleaner shrimp, 2 peppermint shrimp. And also neon gobies, barnacle blennys and a clown goby. Tank is 180 mixed reef, aiming to be more sps, so lots of flow.

So from all of the small fish and the shrimps I have, I have always stopped myself when it comes to the flame hawk, and I suspect I have done the right thing.

Interested to see if anyone else disagrees and has had success with preventing there flame eating things you don't want it too?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have never had an issue with flame hawks going after any of the livestock you mentioned. I probably would be nervous about sexy shrimp, but since they are not on your list no worries there. And i have kept them with barnacle blennies and small cleaner, blood, and peppermint shrimp.

 

[gsiegel]

Ditto. I have a bonded Pair of flame Hawks with some smaller fish and no issues whatsoever. I would recommend a pair as the interaction between the two is also fun to watch. They pop up on divers den as a bonded pair somewhat regularly. Good luck.

 

[IUfan]

That's great to hear.

Thanks

 

[mbingha]

What about with a long nose hawkish?

 

[IUfan]

That's doubley awesome to hear @Gsiegel, was actually thinking about a pair, kept seeing them on divers den, was taking a lot of will power to not buy them. But looks like I was worrying over nothing.

@mbingha were you suggesting I should look at the longnose or asking if longnose are safe? I considered longnose after I thought flames weren't possible, but I think if I remember correctly, that the longnose are even less reef safe towards small fish n shrimp?

 

[mbingha]

That's doubley awesome to hear @Gsiegel, was actually thinking about a pair, kept seeing them on divers den, was taking a lot of will power to not buy them. But looks like I was worrying over nothing.

@mbingha were you suggesting I should look at the longnose or asking if longnose are safe? I considered longnose after I thought flames weren't possible, but I think if I remember correctly, that the longnose are even less reef safe towards small fish n shrimp?

I was asking if they were any more or less reef safe. Both are really cool fish tho.