learning about flame hawkfish

[_frostbite]

Will my fish eat a Cleaner shrimp? Also, what about an Algae Blenny?

[axonify]

Based on what I've come across, cleaner shrimp are likely to be eaten, but it might take a while - up to a year, even. Algae blenny, on the other hand, should be safe.

This fish can also be a bit aggressive towards some snails and hermits, probably eating them too. Still, it's an awesome fish, in my opinion.

[_frostbite]

Ugh, seriously. I've got another one - http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod ... CatId=2626. It mentions it might eat shrimp, but my cleaner is pretty big, about 3 inches long, excluding the feelers.

[dreamon7]

I've always thought that was the general rule - they'll eat what fits in their mouth.

[zenoxa]

From my understanding, cleaner shrimp are generally safe from this fish, it's the tiny ones like sexy shrimp that might be at risk. Most of the time, snails and hermits will also be left alone. The larger hawks, like the arc-eye, are the ones that give this family a bad reputation.

[dreamon7]

I've had my eye on a flame hawk that's been lingering at my local fish store for over a year now - it's even got its own tank and a quirky habit of perching in a set of shark jaws. The hefty price tag on a 3" fish with supposedly strict carnivorous tastes was enough to give me cold feet about bringing it home.

[Kodexa]

Animals are wired to take the easy route, but when hunger strikes and they're forced to venture out of their comfort zone, they might just discover a taste for something new. That's how you end up with fish in your tank that wouldn't normally eat something in the wild, suddenly developing a taste for it.

Take my experience with that one cookie I wasn't supposed to have – oops, I just took a bite... and I'm still alive. Hmm, I think I'll have another one. It's the same with fish; once they get a taste for something they wouldn't normally eat, they might just become hooked.

So, the moral of the story is: keep your fish well-fed, especially the ones with questionable eating habits.

[zenoxa]

I completely agree with that.

[finnley_9]

if you're really into hawks, ever considered a longnose? they're pretty cool, always swimming out in the open, and look great in a tank, just a thought

[Briko]

From my understanding, cleaner shrimp are generally safe from this fish, it's the tiny ones like sexy shrimp that might be at risk. Most of the time, snails and hermits will also be left alone. The larger hawks, like the arc-eye, are the ones that give this family a bad reputation.

I had the same thoughts as you, zenoxa, after reading similar accounts, and thought my cleaners were safe. They were roughly the same size as the dwarf hawkfish I got, but both vanished within a week. You'd be amazed at how far they can stretch their jaws. I saw the hawk swimming around with half of the second cleaner hanging out of its mouth for a day, but it eventually managed to swallow it whole.

My blood shrimp is still around, probably because it's more agile or keeps a low profile. The hermits and snails seem to be fine, though.