Any experience with Blue Throat Triggers in a reef aquarium?

[MortalWombatX]

I've been doing some research and wanted to know of any first hand experiences with Blue throat triggers in a reef setting. I've read they're the most docile reef safe triggers. What I'm concerned most about are a trigger's tendency to move rockwork around. Are blue-throats an exception to this? I'm pretty particular about my aquarium's appearance and I would rather not have another interior decorator in-house.

 

[DDon]

I have a pair in my 270g and to date have had no issues with this. The worst I have seen them male do is carry a snail around.

 

[MortalWombatX]

How long have you had them for? Seeing that they are huskier and more "muscular" do they tend to accidentally stir the sand bed or knock over corals/rubble? Any other advice with these guys? Any compatibility issues?

Sorry for the questions it's just that I have zero experience with triggers and never considered getting one until now. I just learned about these reef-safe species and seeing videos like these are enticing.


There's one in an LFS nearby and very close to asking them to hold it for me.

 

[humaguy]

x trigs, nigers, pinktails, and a few others are considered reef safe, but a trigger is a trigger...never trust a trigger..if you don't want anything in your tank disturbed, trig is a bad choice.

 

[MortalWombatX]

But, but . . . .I want one! DDon, counter humaguy's comments please!

Humaguy: Do you think out of all the triggerfish, blue-throats are the most mild-mannered of the group? Or is this more of a "it's up to the individual fish" kinda deal?

 

[Gamestyle]

I know a guy who owns a blue throat. Most peaceful trigger I've seen, BUT remember never trust a trigger

 

[scooter31707]

IME, he has been a model citizen, very peaceful so far. Hasn't touched any shrimp or inverts (knock on wood)

 

[DDon]

They haven't been in my tank long term, still measured in months not years (was going to edit my initial post to let you know that but got pulled away). To date they have not "rearranged anything". I imagine the potential exists though. I have met others that had them long term in their tanks without issues. That is what helped sway me in my decision to add them.
I see the potential for them to pick up frags that aren't glued down and have witnessed the male carrying a snail. As far as rock work, they do wedge themselves in the rocks to sleep or hideout so if the rock work isn't secure there could be a risk of knocking something over. Never seen any indication of them stirring the sand bed, though my melanurus wrasse does a good job at that. Any large muscular fish has the potential to knock over or "frag a coral", my tangs have done this in the past. My large turbos and longspine urchins have been way more destructive than the BT Triggers.
I read everything I could before making the decision to add them. Blue Throats seem to be the most mild mannered of the triggers but as has been said they are still triggers. For me the risk was worth it as I really enjoy them.

Dale

 

[CHSUB]

had mine about 8 months....been great, very interesting fish and fun to watch swim around!!!

[URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/CHSUB/media/image_zpsp07lzvtn.jpeg.html][/URL]

 

[Blue spot]

Hi mortal, I have a pair of blue throats which I have kept for over a year. Mine have created a nest under a low overhang rock and keep this reletivly pristine . Occasionally they go a find something new to decorate with , but normally a shell. Fish wise they are very peacefull never bother anything and I keep them with angels, tangs , pipefish, cardinals, bean gobys, everything. Coral they have never bothered. Cleaner Shrimp blood shrimp anemone crabs and hermit crabs, they have never eaten anything. Feed wise they get the same as everything else except one day a week when I hold a prawn in the tank and they hand feed. Downside , only one for me and that is they march back and forth their nest all day and love their own reflection. (Tires me out watching them). No idea if this is all common behaviour , just my experience with them so far.

 

[hartin461]

Got a female bluethroat and she is a gem so far, about six months. She even survived my maroon clownfish dragging her into my anenome!
She does swim the tank all day but stops to eat!! Also got a Pinktail who is fun and leaves things alone except he does sharpen his teeth on the rock work...He is suspect to my snail and crab population as all I have left are 3 turbos. He`s a couple years old.

 

[MortalWombatX]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Just about ready to pull the trigger (no pun).

hartin461: How do you mean he sharpens his teeth on the rocks? I'm trying to picture that. . . .

 

[hartin461]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Just about ready to pull the trigger (no pun).

hartin461: How do you mean he sharpens his teeth on the rocks? I'm trying to picture that. . . .

Actually bites the rock..got teeth marks all over my rock. Got to get some pics and show..he is about 6 inch long and very thick, with a big mouth...

 

[Deinonych]

x trigs, nigers, pinktails, and a few others are considered reef safe, but a trigger is a trigger...never trust a trigger..if you don't want anything in your tank disturbed, trig is a bad choice.

This.

 

[Drewl117]

I've had my male blue throat for over 5 years now. It's my favorite fish in the tank and like others say, he is a model citizen! He does like to have a snail snack once in a while which is actually cool to see. He will grab a snail and thrash it around and even bang it off the rocks or glass to get it out of the shell and eat it. He has never bothered anything else in the tank and likes to get cleaned by the cleaner shrimp on occasion. I've never seen him move rocks or corals either.

 

[Drewl117]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[moondoggy4]

Mine hates the aluminum little squares off of the frozen food. If one falls under the rock he will kick up massive sand storms. Mine likes to borrow under rocks to sleep so more massive sand storms I dream of removing him from my tank. Just like people fish are the same, mine is neurotic.