Hawkfish and cleaner shrimp compatability

[Reef Dog 29]

Has anyone kept a spotted hawkfish and a scarlet cleaner shrimp together in a smaller aquarium, if so what is the best way to do this. Ive got a 29 gallon biocube and my hawk is in qt and if I can ill be getting the cleaner in a few months.

 

[Reef Dog 29]

Has anyone kept a spotted hawkfish and a scarlet cleaner shrimp together in a smaller aquarium, if so what is the best way to do this. Ive got a 29 gallon&nbsp;biocube and my hawk is in qt and if I can ill be getting the cleaner in a few months.<br type="_moz">

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I think the Hawkfish will kill the shrimp. Mine did

 

[DogueDeBordeaux]

I have a pair of red hawkfish with a cleaner shrimp. They have been in for 6 months or more. My cleaner shrimp does hang out under a rock where my gig anemone is at during the day. At night the cleaner is all over the tank.

 

[Reef Dog 29]

Will the tank size affect survivability of the shrimp and the hawkfish?

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I believe so. In a 29 gallon the shrimp does not stand a good chance. If you want to try it, add the shrimp first.

 

[Reef Dog 29]

What about a coral banded shrimp , since they've got claws would it stand up to the hawk

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Maybe, but Hawkfish often eat most shrimp

 

[Reef Dog 29]

Ok I might give it a try,I can catch another coral banded shrimp most days during spring and summer if need be.

 

[Mtnbikedan01]

I have a flame hawk that live with 2 cleaner shrimp for about 4 months without an issue but one day I was missing one. A week later I watched him get the other one. By the way I have a 220 and fish are over fed. Hope that gives you a little more insight.

 

[jdl513]

I would not try it.
99 out of 100 a hawkfish will prey on the cleaner shrimp eventually even if well fed.

It may take 5 minutes or 5 months, but you can pretty much count on the hawk giving into temptation.

 

[cgomez87]

It also depends on the size of the hawkish and shrimp I've had a flame hawk with a large cleanershrimp never bothered him

 

[rworegon]

Your best bet would be to introduce the shrimp first. Let it get established and then infroduce the hawk. I'm not sure about the spotted hawk but this is the way i did it with my flame hawk and they have been living together for about a year now.

 

[reeffirstaid]

Your pushing your luck with any hawkfish species in a 29 gallon bio-cube. I've never had any hawkfish bother cleaner shrimp, and I've mixed the two quite a bit over the years.

 

[Reef Dog 29]

Update: the hawk fish is doing great, it's gotten a little bigger, and it's one of my favorite fish in my tank.

 

[Dragonreef202]

I have had peppermint shrimp but never cleaner with him. Good fed fish doesn't worry about all the little snacks in your aquarium

 

[elwallacejr]

Started with 3" cleaner and 2" blood red Shrimp. Got a spotted hawk. Two months later. I still had the spotted hawk. No Shrimp.

 

[BiggestE222]

Has anyone kept a spotted hawkfish and a scarlet cleaner shrimp together in a smaller aquarium, if so what is the best way to do this. Ive got a 29 gallon biocube and my hawk is in qt and if I can ill be getting the cleaner in a few months.

Within 5 minutes most likely.

 

[BiggestE222]

What about a coral banded shrimp , since they've got claws would it stand up to the hawk

Lol. Hawkfish will win.