Hawkfish and Cleaner Shrimp

[KSum89]

Ok so i have had a cleaner shrimp for a year and a half and now id say its about at his full size. If i was to go buy a Longnose hawkfish , would it kill my cleaner even tho my cleaner has been in the tank first and made itself at home.

I dont want to part with this shrimp, we been through tough times ..

I really want to add one of these hawks though, but would rather not provide it with a 25$ meal. I have read multiple posts on this issue, many say as long as the shrimp is in first and bigger then there shouldnt be a problem. But others say their hawks waited til the shrimp molted to attack. What do you all think??

Oh yeah its a 55 gallon.
2 perc clowns
Various snails
1 small six line
1 engineer goby

Plan to add a hawkfish, & midas blenny and be done!

Edit: and i read more on Flames attacking the cleaners more than the longnose. So thats why im thinking about adding the longnose.

 

[KSum89]

One more thing, my cleaner is in my quaratine tank. I moved it there because I went to the fish store to check out and possibly buy the hawkfish but its way to overpriced $60 so i will have to try the mom and dad fish place when i decide. But another question is.. Will my sixline attack the cleaner shrimp? Its real small too... I like buying my fish small to watch them grow.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

Yaaa i think the hawk would attack the cleaner :/

 

[FlopNewsom]

I have 3 cleaner shrimp and a fire shrimp with my long nose hawk. I have had no problems with them but I did try to put some smaller peppermint shrimp in and they didn't last long.

 

[reefrunner69]

If it's a skunk cleaner shrimp, I tend to think it might be ok, but probably wouldn't chance it.

 

[KSum89]

See .. Im still getting mixed posts!! I dont know what to do lol.

Also, will my sixline attack the cleaner??

 

[reefrunner69]

See .. Im still getting mixed posts!! I dont know what to do lol.

Also, will my sixline attack the cleaner??

It really depends on the fish, I have kept a six line, a small flame hawk and a skunk cleaner in the same 20gallon tank with no issues, but you never can be 100% certain until you try.

 

[bettaowner]

I would just not add the hawk fish. Your shrimp will be eaten like shrimp scampi.

 

[FlopNewsom]

Some things you just don't know. All fish are different. My hawk has never bothered my cleaners but you never know...

 

[KSum89]

I think i will chance it. My cleaner is huge and shouls be established about time i find a better priced longnose hawk. Hopefully they will get along.

 

[Squidy07]

you should be fine adding the hawkfish. I have a flame hawkfish with my cleaner shrimp and they both are doing fine.

 

[KSum89]

So far my new longnose is on the other side of the tank and hasnt paid any attention to my cleaner, my hawkfish wont even eat some thawed shrimp i put in the tank too.. So hopefully thats a good sign.

He ignores pellets but he does chase down the flakes. I hate using flakes, but i guess i will have to add it in the rotation now.

 

[Anyadvicewilldo357]

The hawk shld be ok w him size matters

 

[Anyadvicewilldo357]

Well they can work but size matters I was old

 

[Keithhjs]

IMO the sixline is fine to go with shrimps. I keep one with peppermint, fire, cleaner, and pistol shrimp.

 

[KSum89]

One thing my hawk does that i hate... Ever since i introduced him to my tank he always squeezes inbetween the overflow and back on my aquarium. I scared him away from that spot three times..

He goes to the nearest rock watches me, then turns around and looks at the spot i just scared him away from.

I floated a clean toothbrush that floats to scare him off permanently lol.. He stayed away but stared at it all night. I turned off all the lights then went about my buisness....

I just checked my tank , he is back there again.... I dont like that spot because i cant see him unless i look from the side.