Aggressive Flame Hawk

[Samper]

I've never read anything about a flame hawk being agressive however today I added a yellow watchman goby that I got for free to my tank....He immediately started chasing and striking at it. Now I'm afraid its dead. What would cause the flame to do this. He has never exhibited any sign of aggressive behavior to anything.

[farewellnite]

maybe the goby was too little and looked like food..... i dont know... ive just seen some really tiny yellow watchman gobys. and depending on how big your hawk fish is? maybe

[Samper]

about 2 and a half inches long and 1 inch tall.

[Ninong]

I've never read anything about a flame hawk being agressive...

Yes, all hawkfish are aggressive towards anything small enough to fit into their rather large mouths: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hawkfish.htm

The reason they are called "hawk" fish is because they perch up high like a hawk and swoop down on unsuspecting prey -- small fish or shrimp, etc. They are favorites of many reefkeepers but you must realize that they are a threat to anything smaller than themselves and it will be virtually impossible to keep cleaner shrimp in a tank with a hawkfish.

[Poseidon]

Yup Hawks are super cool, but they are (can be) quite aggressive towards tankmates!

[Samper]

I love my hawk however today I witnessed him attack my royal gramma.......Now the gramma has been hiding all day. Is anyone in this forum in North Carolina and can you provide a good home for my flame? If so we can work out something cause he has become way too territorial.

[RayPollett]

Flame Hawkfish are aggressive fish (althought probably one of the least aggressive of the hawkfish)and their personallity must be taking into account. Their aggressiveness can be lessened by keeping them well fed. From my experience; with 4 adequate feedings a day a flame hawkfish pretty much ignore other animals in the tank, including cleaner shrimp. I have Flame Hawkfish in with Blood Shrimp, Coral Banded Shrimp, Peppermint shrimp and common cleaner shrimp in different tanks. Most have been together for more than a year.

Ray

[Samper]

My 20 gallon cant really handle 4 feedings a day. Im trying to figure out a way to keep him....maybe if I set up some sort of refug?

[RayPollett]

My 20 gallon cant really handle 4 feedings a day. Im trying to figure out a way to keep him....maybe if I set up some sort of refug?

Size makes no difference in how many times a day you can feed. 4 proper feedings a day are better than 1 - 2- or 3 feedings a day for the fish you have. Fish use the energy from a feeding very quickly and are looking for more. Tanks that are set up correctly have no problem handling 3 or 4 proper feedings a day.

Ray

[Ninong]

Samper,

If you take the exact same amount of food that you have been feeding once a day and divide that in half and feed half of it before you go to work and the other half when you get home, you will actually make it easier for your tank to handle compared to your previous once a day schedule.

[Samper]

AH
I'll start doing that in the morning.