Bless their "pointy little heads"

LauraLea · 04/09/2006, 01:34 PM

Usually, I do a lot of research, but I am in a time crunch... It is Sunday (of course) and my local LFS will be closing soon - and the one that I really like is closed on Sunday. I need some advice - PLEASE HELP!!

Yesterday evening, two of the little neighbor boys showed up at my door holding a "present" - so proud of themselves - for my tank. To my horror (I hope that I am not offending anyone...) they had four yellow tail damsels.... Right now we have a "happy little tank". A false percula, BTA, yellow head goby, cleaner shrimp, and 2 turbo snails. Everyone gets along (of course the shrimp does cop the occassional attitude.)

I feel really badly but - I will not put the damsels into the tank. The store that the little boys bought them from will not take them back (I called the store) that is a whole 'nother story... Anyway, I will address buying someone else a pet and research and fish compatibility, etc. But right now, I am trying to not hurt the little boys feelings by getting an acceptable "replacement" fish and get the damsels back. Right now they are in the QT.

The local store recommended a "hawkfish" - sorry this is my first saltwater tank and we have been so happy and successful that I don't know to make a mistake. Does anyone think that this is a good or bad mix? I am about to cram read, but please help in the interim.

Sk8r · 04/09/2006, 01:39 PM

A hawkfish mostly sits and waits for something edible. They're not rough or rowdy, and don't participate in brawls, that I've ever seen.

bertoni · 04/09/2006, 01:40 PM

There are lots of kinds of hawkfish. Some might eat the cleaner.

LauraLea · 04/09/2006, 01:52 PM

This one is a "Spotted". Yeah, based on what I am reading looks like some types can be aggressive. I was even kind of worried based on the name - HAWK.

Do you think that I would be better off to just steer clear - the last thing that I want in bedlom (sp) in the tank.....

LauraLea · 04/09/2006, 02:09 PM

When you say that they sit and eat something edible - is that like brine, or the cleaner shrimp (which is about 1 1/4 inches...) Do they eat frozen brine or pellets?

I am seeing that the they can be highly predatory and can get too large for my peaceful aquarium...am I just reading too much now?

icarus999 · 04/09/2006, 03:15 PM

yellow tail damsels are gerally lees rowdy than most damsels, but any fish without an air bladder, such as a gobie blenny or HAWKFISH, would be great. It's up to you really

bertoni · 04/09/2006, 04:37 PM

When the spotted hawkfish gets large enough, it might try to eat the cleaner. Maybe not, though. If I've got the right species, the adult size is around 5".

Fishie Nut · 04/09/2006, 09:34 PM

I have a Falco's Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys falco. He (she) is the cutes fish I have. Every time I come near the tank, he shoots over to the glass, sits on the sand and looks at me. I've got him in a 35 gal, soon to move to a 100 gal reef.

I would recommend him highly. He eats mysis shrimp, worms, anything I throw in there. He's not shy. I've only had him for a couple of weeks, but I really like this guy.

Kelmen · 04/10/2006, 03:28 AM

or maybe pay a little more for another small clown, for pairing?

Amphiprion · 04/10/2006, 06:38 AM

The spotted hawfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, is not well-suited for a tank with shrimp, etc. Many of the other species aren't guaranteed either. IME, the safest (but like the others, not always) is Cyprinocirrhites polyactis, i.e. the lyretail hawkfish.

04/09/2006, 01:34 PM	#1
LauraLea Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 48	Bless their "pointy little heads" Usually, I do a lot of research, but I am in a time crunch... It is Sunday (of course) and my local LFS will be closing soon - and the one that I really like is closed on Sunday. I need some advice - PLEASE HELP!! Yesterday evening, two of the little neighbor boys showed up at my door holding a "present" - so proud of themselves - for my tank. To my horror (I hope that I am not offending anyone...) they had four yellow tail damsels.... Right now we have a "happy little tank". A false percula, BTA, yellow head goby, cleaner shrimp, and 2 turbo snails. Everyone gets along (of course the shrimp does cop the occassional attitude.) I feel really badly but - I will not put the damsels into the tank. The store that the little boys bought them from will not take them back (I called the store) that is a whole 'nother story... Anyway, I will address buying someone else a pet and research and fish compatibility, etc. But right now, I am trying to not hurt the little boys feelings by getting an acceptable "replacement" fish and get the damsels back. Right now they are in the QT. The local store recommended a "hawkfish" - sorry this is my first saltwater tank and we have been so happy and successful that I don't know to make a mistake. Does anyone think that this is a good or bad mix? I am about to cram read, but please help in the interim.

04/09/2006, 01:39 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A hawkfish mostly sits and waits for something edible. They're not rough or rowdy, and don't participate in brawls, that I've ever seen. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/09/2006, 01:40 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	There are lots of kinds of hawkfish. Some might eat the cleaner. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/09/2006, 01:52 PM	#4
LauraLea Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 48	This one is a "Spotted". Yeah, based on what I am reading looks like some types can be aggressive. I was even kind of worried based on the name - HAWK. Do you think that I would be better off to just steer clear - the last thing that I want in bedlom (sp) in the tank..... __________________ All I want is world peace and for everyone in my tanks to get along.

04/09/2006, 02:09 PM	#5
LauraLea Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 48	When you say that they sit and eat something edible - is that like brine, or the cleaner shrimp (which is about 1 1/4 inches...) Do they eat frozen brine or pellets? I am seeing that the they can be highly predatory and can get too large for my peaceful aquarium...am I just reading too much now? __________________ All I want is world peace and for everyone in my tanks to get along.

04/09/2006, 03:15 PM	#6
icarus999 Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: Cincinnati OH Posts: 110	yellow tail damsels are gerally lees rowdy than most damsels, but any fish without an air bladder, such as a gobie blenny or HAWKFISH, would be great. It's up to you really

04/09/2006, 04:37 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	When the spotted hawkfish gets large enough, it might try to eat the cleaner. Maybe not, though. If I've got the right species, the adult size is around 5". __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/09/2006, 09:34 PM	#8
Fishie Nut Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 966	I have a Falco's Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys falco. He (she) is the cutes fish I have. Every time I come near the tank, he shoots over to the glass, sits on the sand and looks at me. I've got him in a 35 gal, soon to move to a 100 gal reef. I would recommend him highly. He eats mysis shrimp, worms, anything I throw in there. He's not shy. I've only had him for a couple of weeks, but I really like this guy. __________________ Fishie (MASLAC member) "It's alaways a sometin'" -- Roseanna Roseannadana Current Tank Info: 225 gal LeeMar Reef; Deltec AP 702, ProFiLux, 90 gal sump/fuge, 3x250 HQI Lumenarcs. 4x96W PC actinics; 375 lbs LR; 3" LS; Hammerhead CL, Korallin c3002, KM500, Auto Water Change/Top Off; Aquatinics 1/3 HP drop in

04/10/2006, 03:28 AM	#9
Kelmen Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Malaysia Posts: 467	or maybe pay a little more for another small clown, for pairing?

04/10/2006, 06:38 AM	#10
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	The spotted hawfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, is not well-suited for a tank with shrimp, etc. Many of the other species aren't guaranteed either. IME, the safest (but like the others, not always) is Cyprinocirrhites polyactis, i.e. the lyretail hawkfish. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO