Is there a shrimp-friendly hawk?
Is there a hawkfish that can be trusted with my Peppermint shrimp please? I’d love to add one to my reef tank.
NAT SMITH
JEREMY ADVISES: Hawkfish are predatory of small shrimp, and even one of the smaller species like a Scarlet hawkfish would be capable of eating adult Peppermint shrimp. Peppermints are secretive at the best of times and are hardly ever seen once introduced, and this may offer them some protection, but if the hawkfish spots them it will eat them, and you won't be able to stop it from hunting them out.
I'm presuming the Peppermint shrimp are there for
Aiptasia anemone control. If it’s an Aiptasia killer you need, you could try an Aiptasia-eating tilefish, Acreichthys
tomentosus, which will be fine with any hawkfish, or a Copperband butterflyfish in large reef aquaria. I just wouldn't trust any hawkfish with shrimp.