Will a goby protect a pistol shrimp from a hawk fish

[fishywishy]

I want a flame hawk fish but I also want a yellow watchmen goby and banded pistol shrimp pair but I’m worried that the flame hawk will eat the pistol shrimp, can the yellow watchmen protect him from getting eaten or is it inevitable?

 

[Dave1993]

i would say no could be wrong though if the goby was a tang and they paired with shrimp i would say yes they have a deadly weapon a goby does not

 

[Slocke]

I want a flame hawk fish but I also want a yellow watchmen goby and banded pistol shrimp pair but I’m worried that the flame hawk will eat the pistol shrimp, can the yellow watchmen protect him from getting eaten or is it inevitable?

Protect. No. The shrimp is tougher than the goby. The goby acts as lookout to warn the shrimp if a predator is nearby. Thus the goby will help.
My experience is that the pistol shrimp will do fine but you'll almost never see it or the goby with a predator like a hawkfish around. Once I removed the hawk I started seeing both regularly.

Also hawks are 50/50 fish. Sometimes they're great and don't scare or eat anything other times they're nasty. My Falco loves shrimp and gobies and had to be moved on.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Its the yellow watchman that will end up dead before the shrimp. If you get the hawk you will probably never see the watchman again, it will hide permanently, and that one time it doesn't hide fast enough.....

But I think tank size has a lot to do with that, how big is the tank?

 

[fishywishy]

Its the yellow watchman that will end up dead before the shrimp. If you get the hawk you will probably never see the watchman again, it will hide permanently, and that one time it doesn't hide fast enough.....

But I think tank size has a lot to do with that, how big is the tank?

55 gallon

 

[fishywishy]

Its the yellow watchman that will end up dead before the shrimp. If you get the hawk you will probably never see the watchman again, it will hide permanently, and that one time it doesn't hide fast enough.....

But I think tank size has a lot to do with that, how big is the tank?

Can a full grown hawk fish eat a full grown yellow watchmen goby there almost the same size at full grown

 

[parclife]

My hawk has left all my shrimps alone, he’s happy with the frozen food and waits on the mushroom come food time.

 

[Slocke]

Can a full grown hawk fish eat a full grown goby there almost the same size at full grown

It won't eat them all. It will kill them and in my case parade them around the tank.
This OSG was lucky to survive with only a lost eye and another goby wasn't so lucky. As I said it may work but if it doesn't they are awful. There's a reason why you'll find several threads on here about how to remove hawkfish.

 

[fishywishy]

It won't eat them all. It will kill them and in my case parade them around the tank.
This OSG was lucky to survive with only a lost eye and another goby wasn't so lucky. As I said it may work but if it doesn't they are awful. There's a reason why you'll find several threads on here about how to remove hawkfish.

If you get the hawk fish last and at a small size will it leave other fish alone like with some other fish and will he only bully fish that are smaller than him or will he also bully my cardinal fish and dwarf angels?

 

[TokenReefer]

Fwiw I have all 3 of these (flame hawk) and they all are out and about and get along without any issue.

It must come down to each individual fish's behavior imo

 

[fishywishy]

Fwiw I have all 3 of these (flame hawk) and they all are out and about and get along without any issue.

It must come down to each individual fish's behavior imo

Is your flame hawk full grown?

 

[TokenReefer]

Roughly. It's about 3 inches (just eyeballing) give or take. That's a great point you make though about maturity. Maybe mine will turn into (even more of) a psycho eventually :)

 

[TokenReefer]

Btw I also have a Skunk Cleaner and I've seen it cleaning the hawk. I actually picked this hawk out at the lfs because I saw it letting a shrimp there clean it as well

 

[Slocke]

If you get the hawk fish last and at a small size will it leave other fish alone like with some other fish and will he only bully fish that are smaller than him or will he also bully my cardinal fish and dwarf angels?

It is more likely to be more peaceful if added last yes.
I’ve had a longnose without issue. It is a lot to do with the personality of the hawk.