Spotted Hawkfish safe with cleaner shrimp??

[PirateLove]

I just brought a spotted hawkfish back from Florida and was just informed today that he may eat my shrimp. My favorite shrimp in my 42 gallon and I would hate to loose him. He swims up and eats out of the little pipette tube every night and it is very entertaining to everyone. Should I be worried?

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[dana_ag]

You're probably okay with cleaner shrimp. It is true that they'll eat shrimp, but from my experience, they pick on peppermint shrimp and smaller shrimp. I wouldn't introduce anymore shrimp after the hawkfish. They'll more likely to be lunch. I have a longnose hawkfish with a cleaner shrimp and it leaves it alone.

 

[anthonys51]

might be fine for a while, but really hard to tell. even if the shrimp is big he can still kill it during a molt. But i would keep he well feed and keep your fingers crossed

 

[Cliving1]

Depends on the size imo. My longnose has never even looked at my blood shrimp.

 

[Dogshowgrl]

Don't add shrimp after him. Yes there is a risk but you should be ok as long as the shrimp is there first.

 

[tjm9331]

Don't add shrimp after him. Yes there is a risk but you should be ok as long as the shrimp is there first.

I agree if the shrimp was in the tank first then it should be fine. I had a flame hawkfish in my previous tank along with a coral banded shrimp and the 2 were best friends the trick was to have the shrimp in before the flame hawkfish. Even when the hawkfish was adult size he never bothered the CBS.