Spotted Hawkfish safe with cleaner shrimp??

PirateLove · 06/21/2016, 02:03 PM

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 · 06/21/2016, 02:06 PM

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 · 06/21/2016, 03:37 PM

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 · 06/21/2016, 08:00 PM

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

Dogshowgrl · 06/21/2016, 08:30 PM

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 · 06/22/2016, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

06/21/2016, 02:06 PM	#2
dana_ag Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Orange County Posts: 27	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.

06/21/2016, 03:37 PM	#3
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	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

06/21/2016, 08:00 PM	#4
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Depends on the size imo. My longnose has never even looked at my blood shrimp.

06/21/2016, 08:30 PM	#5
Dogshowgrl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 298	Don't add shrimp after him. Yes there is a risk but you should be ok as long as the shrimp is there first.