Wasp Fish Tank Mates

[Dyslexic]

I recently picked up a red rooster waspfish from my LFS. I was talking to their saltwater guy, who seems pretty knowledgeable from the few times I’ve talked to him. I mentioned that I have an adult cleaner shrimp, adult harlequin shrimp, and adult pom pom crab. He said the waspfish is too small to go after either shrimp and that I shouldn’t have to worry about the pom pom crab since they don’t eat crabs because they lack the strong jaws to crush the shell.

After doing some more research, I’ve seen a lot of conflicting information about whether or not he might try to eat my harlequin shrimp or pom pom crab.

Does anyone have any firsthand experience keeping these guys with shrimp or crabs?

He’s currently about 2–2.5 inches, eats frozen food really well, and has been super chill with the possum wrasse he’s in QT with.

 

[tbrown]

@Paul B and @fishguy242 have these in their tanks.

 

[fishguy242]

If he gets hungry ,he's gonna eat those shrimp

 

[Dyslexic]

If he gets hungry ,he's gonna eat those shrimp

His mouth is big enough for that?

 

[Brocksamson7]

I have one with a pistol, blood red, and peppermint and I’ve never caught him stalking any of them. I fed him every other day with a chunk of frozen food. So far so good. About the same size as yours.

 

[fishguy242]

Hypodytes rubripinnis​

Care Level	Expert
Temperament	Ambush predator; peaceful but will eat small fish
Color Form	Variable red, brown, orange, and mottled patterns with elaborate rooster-like fin extensions
Diet	Carnivore
Reef Compatible	Not reef-safe
Water Conditions	sg 1.023–1.025, 74–80°F, pH 8.1–8.4
Max Size	4“
Family	Tetrarogidae
Minimum Tank Size	30 gallons

 

[Paul B]

I have 2 of them for a few years and they are about to spawn. (I think)



I also have them with about 40 fish including about 5 small clown gobies, bluestripe pipefish and a banded coral shrimp. They will not bother anything they can't fit in their mouth whole.

I feed them meaty foods like live earthworms which I sometimes have to cut up in smaller pieces as that is their favorite food. They also love pieces of clams.


Very nice and peaceful fish but I do target feed them because the other fish are much to fast and won't let them eat. They are very slow feeders and need to chew their food for a while before the next bite.

 

[tbrown]

I have 2 of them for a few years and they are about to spawn. (I think)



I also have them with about 40 fish including about 5 small clown gobies, bluestripe pipefish and a banded coral shrimp. They will not bother anything they can't fit in their mouth whole.

I feed them meaty foods like live earthworms which I sometimes have to cut up in smaller pieces as that is their favorite food. They also love pieces of clams.


Very nice and peaceful fish but I do target feed them because the other fish are much to fast and won't let them eat. They are very slow feeders and need to chew their food for a while before the next bite.

Their mothers taught them manners!