Will my cleaner shrimp be safe with long nose hawkfish?

[Bigfish of La.]

I would love to add the hawk fish but don’t want my 2 year old shrimp to become a meal. Comments.

 

[4FordFamily]

I would love to add the hawk fish but don’t want my 2 year old shrimp to become a meal. Comments.

I’ve never had issues with longnose nor flame hawks, even large. Mine didn’t even bother tiny peppermint shrimp.

I’d say they’re both very docile. Of course, it’s possible that they go after a shrimp but if the shrimp is decent-sized I think it’s a safe gamble.

 

[mahindra.dev]

I would love to add the hawk fish but don’t want my 2 year old shrimp to become a meal. Comments.

I agree per above comment. I’ve never had mine trouble any shrimp.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I haven't had trouble with them with shrimp either. A 2yr old cleaner shrimp will be pretty big too.

 

[HB AL]

Only thing that would happen if it feels threatened and if it doesn't get eaten is it will only come out at night. I have a cleaner, fire shrimp and a couple peppermint and they only come out at night, and my hermits do the same. I attribute this to the two triggers in my reef and the big red coris wrasse, but they never go after any of them. As all the shrimp and crabs have been in there for 2 years now.

 

[najer]

I have a flame hawk, another smaller red hawk and a dwarf fuzzy lion, sort of the reverse, I added 2 small to medium cleaner shrimps 2 days ago, still have 2!

 

[eatbreakfast]

My cleaner and blood shrimp are out during the day with my hawk pr.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I echo the same. Never had any problems with flames or long nose and shrimp. Falco's, well I've personally had issues with them becoming aggressive and going after shrimp.

 

[reefologist55]

It's simple..just depends on the size ratio. I have a hawk w a cleaner, but made sure my cleaner was stlesdt half the fishes size

 

[joec]

Sorry, a bit off topic, but would a flamehawk or a longnose add about the same bioload to a system do you think? The longnose are longer but are skinnier. Any real difference?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Sorry, a bit off topic, but would a flamehawk or a longnose add about the same bioload to a system do you think? The longnose are longer but are skinnier. Any real difference?

No real difference.

 

[najer]

Sorry, a bit off topic, but would a flamehawk or a longnose add about the same bioload to a system do you think? The longnose are longer but are skinnier. Any real difference?

Flames have a great character!

 

[najer]

Oops!

DSC_0005 by sshipuk, on Flickr

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have three different hawks in tank with my cleaner - NO ISSUES !

 

[Bigfish of La.]

That flame looks awesome.

 

[rkpetersen]

Well, the experts here think it's ok, but I have a different anecdote to tell.

With my first reef, 30 years ago, one day I was sitting there admiring all the life. It was very idyllic. There was my long-nosed hawkfish, perched on a rock. And there below was a peppermint shrimp (or maybe a camel? We kept them then; Saron shrimp too.) How peaceful. Suddenly, the hawkfish lunges down and chomps right down on the midsection of the shrimp. And then just sits there for a few seconds, with the shrimp hanging out of either side of its mouth. I was stunned. Then it chomped on it a few times, pieces went flying, and other fish got into the action. Peaceful tableau ruined.

Now that I think about it, I guess the experience must have traumatized me more than I thought, because I haven't even considered getting any hawkfish since I got back into the hobby.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Well, the experts here think it's ok, but I have a different anecdote to tell.

With my first reef, 30 years ago, one day I was sitting there admiring all the life. It was very idyllic. There was my long-nosed hawkfish, perched on a rock. And there below was a peppermint shrimp (or maybe a camel? We kept them then; Saron shrimp too.) How peaceful. Suddenly, the hawkfish lunges down and chomps right down on the midsection of the shrimp. And then just sits there for a few seconds, with the shrimp hanging out of either side of its mouth. I was stunned. Then it chomped on it a few times, pieces went flying, and other fish got into the action. Peaceful tableau ruined.

Now that I think about it, I guess the experience must have traumatized me more than I thought, because I haven't even considered getting any hawkfish since I got back into the hobby.

In all fairness, peppermint and saron shrimp stay smaller than cleaner and blood shrimp.

 

[Philip Chin]

should be no issue

 

[reefologist55]

I've had both for years..it's all about the ratio..

 

[vetteguy53081]

I dont see an issue at all. Naturally keep hawk fed (not overfed LOL)