Where are my inverts going?

[JayStro81]

Alright, who do I have to kick out of my tank??? 40 gallon AIO. A couple of weeks ago my blue coral banded shrimp that I've had for 2 years was mangled, then the next day was gone. Last week, one of my conch's was gone. I've had a pair for over a year. Today, I noticed that my anemone crab that I've had for about a year is missing. The newest additions to my tank are a pygmy hawkfish and an orchid dottyback, both added a couple of months ago. I know, hawkfish eat shrimp, but the coral banded shrimp was 3x it's size! Do hawkfish attack snails? What about the dottyback. I know they hunt bristle worms, but a crab? What gives? Any tips would be appreciated, I'm in fear of losing my blood shrimp next. The shrimp is huge, but the way things are going, I don't like his chances.

 

[Aboynamedsous2]

The dottyback is most likely the cause they’re known to eat inverts but I believe hawk fish do also.

 

[JayStro81]

The dottyback is most likely the cause they’re known to eat inverts but I believe hawk fish do also

It makes sense, the dottyback was the last fish added, but do they eat crabs?? That's my biggest head scratcher.

 

[Aboynamedsous2]

It makes sense, the dottyback was the last fish added, but do they eat crabs?? That's my biggest head scratcher.

I’m pretty sure they would, I’ve always wanted one but I avoid them for this reason.

 

[lion king]

I wouldn't rule out the hawkfish. I keep a flame hawk in one of my predator tanks, he hunts live food with the rest of them. Either one or both could be guilty.

 

[JayStro81]

I wouldn't rule out the hawkfish. I keep a flame hawk in one of my predator tanks, he hunts live food with the rest of them. Either one or both could be guilty.

I went with the pygmy hawk thinking that since the shrimp in my tank were so much bigger that it wouldn't be a problem. The fish is no bigger than my thumbnail. I may pull them both from my tank. The dottyback is easy catch, but the hawk might be a problem since he stays on the bottom. Now that I think about it, I may try the dottyback first. The hawk is really timid, when I feed my fish he stays to himself and doesn't get near any of the other fish in the tank. It's a really timid fish. But who knows, he could be a silent killer.

 

[lion king]

I went with the pygmy hawk thinking that since the shrimp in my tank were so much bigger that it wouldn't be a problem. The fish is no bigger than my thumbnail. I may pull them both from my tank. The dottyback is easy catch, but the hawk might be a problem since he stays on the bottom. Now that I think about it, I may try the dottyback first. The hawk is really timid, when I feed my fish he stays to himself and doesn't get near any of the other fish in the tank. It's a really timid fish. But who knows, he could be a silent killer.

They really are, very sneaky. That's why over the years I will include one in a predator tank if there's nothing big enough to eat them. The pygmy hawk can be just as aggressive as any other. Dottybacks can be nasty as well. I do have snails in my tank but I don't keep track of them. I'm surprised how many people still underestimate hawkfish.

 

[JayStro81]

They really are, very sneaky. That's why over the years I will include one in a predator tank if there's nothing big enough to eat them. The pygmy hawk can be just as aggressive as any other. Dottybacks can be nasty as well. I do have snails in my tank but I don't keep track of them. I'm surprised how many people still underestimate hawkfish.

Would a hawkfish eat a crab?

 

[lion king]

Would a hawkfish eat a crab?

Their diet in the wild does consist of crustaceans.