Flame hawkfish pair?

Lps_lover12 · Feb 12, 2023

Anyone have luck pairing flame hawks? I’m debating on getting just one or two since I’m not sure how easy they paid as well as I’m a little nervous they will terrorize my tank but they look so cool so I’ll take the risk. The store has ones that are smaller then 2 inches and 2-3 inches so maybe get two smaller then 2 inches?

lion king · Feb 12, 2023

I don't have alot of experience but I did try and fail twice, I would be prepared to separate and don't wait too long. Both times they fought each other violently. Once one died before I separated them, the other time I got the most aggressive out. I think the trick is actually getting a male and female rather than 2 males. I don't think you can visually sex them, I think there's a size difference, and maybe a larger one with a smaller may give you a better shot. Are they in the same tank at the lfs where you could observe. They were in a 40B, so a large enough tank.

Lps_lover12 · Feb 12, 2023

lion king said:
I don't have alot of experience but I did try and fail twice, I would be prepared to separate and don't wait too long. Both times they fought each other violently. Once one died before I separated them, the other time I got the most aggressive out. I think the trick is actually getting a male and female rather than 2 males. I don't think you can visually sex them, I think there's a size difference, and maybe a larger one with a smaller may give you a better shot. Are they in the same tank at the lfs where you could observe. They were in a 40B, so a large enough tank.

They would be in a 20G qt for a month then into a 4ft display tank. I cant see them at the store because I’m getting them shipped, maybe I could ask for two from the same tank

lion king · Feb 12, 2023

Although I'm not much for Divers Den , they do have bonded pairs available at times, many during certain seasons.

Lps_lover12 · Feb 12, 2023

lion king said:
Although I'm not much for Divers Den , they do have bonded pairs available at times, many during certain seasons.

I cant order from there just cause I’m in Canada but I appreciate the help

Lps_lover12 · Feb 12, 2023

lion king said:
Although I'm not much for Divers Den , they do have bonded pairs available at times, many during certain seasons.

I’m guessing I would know if they pair up by the end of the month when their done qt? Just because it will be a lot easier to catch one in the qt rather in my dt

lion king · Feb 12, 2023

Yeah you will know pretty quickly. Regardless there may be some angst right off the bat and even for a few days initially. Just watch that it doesn't become relentless on one side or the other. You may get 2 that become indifferent to each other, if you get 2 that decide to bond, it will happen definitely by the end of the month. Likely even much sooner.

lion king · Feb 12, 2023

Looking back I believe I did it wrong, thinking to equally match them. Knowing now that hawkfish are hermaphrodite and all are born female. It may be best to add a small one with a larger one. That way you will get the small one to remain female and the large one to turn male. I believe my mistake made the the two either both being male, or at the maturity to challenge each other. There is obviously also a risk to the smaller one. But there goes the challenge. If I were to try again I would order one in the smallest size range and one in a larger size range. Add a note, like maybe the right person will actually read it, that you are trying to bond a male/female pair.

Lps_lover12 · Feb 12, 2023

lion king said:
Looking back I believe I did it wrong, thinking to equally match them. Knowing now that hawkfish are hermaphrodite and all are born female. It may be best to add a small one with a larger one. That way you will get the small one to remain female and the large one to turn male. I believe my mistake made the the two either both being male, or at the maturity to challenge each other. There is obviously also a risk to the smaller one. But there goes the challenge. If I were to try again I would order one in the smallest size range and one in a larger size range. Add a note, like maybe the right person will actually read it, that you are trying to bond a male/female pair.

I’ll also put in the note that if I can get two from the same tank that would be perfect, worst case I just have to rehome one if it doesn’t work out. I hope it works out because I hear when they pair there is almost nothing that can seperate them and it would be so cool to watch. Thank you for the help

Marten · Feb 12, 2023

It can be done easier with hawks that are 2" and smaller. I would make sure that the vendor you are getting them from can verify their size first. Now remember that as with anything, this is not a guarantee that it will work out but your chances of success is greater. Give them some perches in your qt tank and be ready to re-home one if the belligerence is non stop. Normally at first they will circle each other trying to size up each other, but this should only result in a few nips. If things escalate further then you will have to intervene. One other piece of advice is to freshwater dip them, they tend to be prone to skin flukes in my experience.

Lps_lover12 · Feb 12, 2023

Marten said:
It can be done easier with hawks that are 2" and smaller. I would make sure that the vendor you are getting them from can verify their size first. Now remember that as with anything, this is not a guarantee that it will work out but your chances of success is greater. Give them some perches in your qt tank and be ready to re-home one if the belligerence is non stop. Normally at first they will circle each other trying to size up each other, but this should only result in a few nips. If things escalate further then you will have to intervene. One other piece of advice is to freshwater dip them, they tend to be prone to skin flukes in my experience.

What should I get for them to perch? Pvc seems like it won’t work so I’m not too sure what to get for them. I will add that to the note to make sure their both under 2”. I have to pray they don’t have flukes as I’m currently dealing with that on my flasher wrasse lol. Thank you for your help

Lps_lover12 · Feb 20, 2023

Update for anyone intrested. I received the hawkfish 4 days ago and as soon as I put them in the tank, with the lights off the one swam over to the other and they fought for a few seconds. Haven’t seen much else squabbling but they may have paired up because this morning when I turned the lights on they were side by side, other then that they just ignore each other.

lion king · Feb 20, 2023

Lps_lover12 said:
Update for anyone intrested. I received the hawkfish 4 days ago and as soon as I put them in the tank, with the lights off the one swam over to the other and they fought for a few seconds. Haven’t seen much else squabbling but they may have paired up because this morning when I turned the lights on they were side by side, other then that they just ignore each other.

Pics and keep us updated

Lps_lover12 · Feb 20, 2023

lion king said:
Pics and keep us updated

had to get a pic of this before the one swam away, whenever I walk up to the tank one goes and hides and the other one stares at me. Adding a diamond tail flasher tomorrow so we will see how they all get along

lion king · Feb 20, 2023

Are they about the same size or is one larger than the other.

Lbrdsoxfan · Feb 20, 2023

lion king said:
Pics and keep us updated

This! Never had luck with pairing hawks (any of the 4 varieties I've tried).

Lbrdsoxfan · Feb 20, 2023

lion king said:
Are they about the same size or is one larger than the other.

Do Hawks have dimorphism? I thought maybe flames, spotted and falcons kinda do... Never noticed it with the long noses.

lion king · Feb 20, 2023

Lbrdsoxfan said:
Do Hawks have dimorphism? I thought maybe flames, spotted and falcons kinda do... Never noticed it with the long noses.

They are hermaphrodites so born female and will turn male in maturity. I'm not exactly sure as in tank dynamics like with wrasses how the dominant turns male and the females can live in a harem. I've never seen such dynamics in hawks, I've only seen the rare male/female pair and the male was always noticeably larger than the female.