Flame Hawkfish
- Thread starter EDO
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reefbeard
Bearded Reefer
He will eat any shrimp that will fit into his mouth and their mouths are bigger than you think. Having said that, I had no problems with a Longnose Hawkfish and a 1.5" cleaner shrimp which was introduced to the tank first. You may be safe with a large enough cleaner shrimp but any other small ornamental definitely not.
Jon Warner
Well-Known Member
It's a great fish... one of only a handful of fish available that add a bright splash of RED to the tank!
dbl
It Takes Less Energy to be Nice
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Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
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My Tank Thread
My wife wanted a red fish like the sushi place. I told her she couldn't have a Flame Angel because it may eat her rastas. So to satisfy her red fish desire, I purchased a Flame Hawk, which hasn't bothered anything. I bought a small one and my cleaner shrimp is at least twice it's size. Albeit he's a little bashful, he's a really fun and pretty addition. Go for it...keep your bride happy.
playmo
Community Member
Flame hawkfish attack the small size of shrimp and crab, if the crab living in SPS branches that she can't get in, that's ok.
Also, she is no interest of hermit crab, but beware she attack Gobies and others hawkfish as well.
Just like gobies, like jump out of tank
Also, she is no interest of hermit crab, but beware she attack Gobies and others hawkfish as well.
Just like gobies, like jump out of tank
jt17
Valuable Member
My flame hawk coexisted with my shrimp for about a year and then in a matter of a couple weeks bye bye cleaner shrimp and blood shrimp. They are pretty fish with cool personalities but they can be mean to other fish. Mine would lurk above where my flame fish hide out and would dive bomb them when they would come out.
If you are looking for a peaceful red fish, my McCoskers flasher wrasse has been a model citizen in my tank.
If you are looking for a peaceful red fish, my McCoskers flasher wrasse has been a model citizen in my tank.
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
I have kept flame hawks with cleaner and blood shrimp for years without issue, but others have had them go predatory. I think it's worth the risk, but you may not.
To chime in I have a flame hawk and has never bothered my blood shrimp or my hermits. I keep mine well fed so he forgot about them. If you can get a shrimp pretty large he won't care. Hermits he has played with but haven't caught him after them.
