Blue Line trigger advice

[jjj1100]

Hello,

The LFS got in a 2 inch blue line trigger which I am considering adding to my 300g Fowlr. the only thing is I have Butterflies, and dwarf angles, and a Flame Hawk. I heard these guys can get nasty, and was wondering everyone's opionions before I added him.

Would this be a fish where I would wake up one day and see a few fish dead, or would he show signs of aggresion in advance.

I know they get 21 inches, so I am leaning more towards not...but just wanted to get some input from those that own them

thanks

 

[danorth]

Try and find someone with one in their home care over 10" that got them small. I haven't heard of it, or seen pictures. There is one large one in the reef central photo gallery but that fish was purchased large. I had emailed the owner a long time ago regarding it. They do get mean, but not all get as mean as fast. Mine would give a short chase, but not an all out attack. In a 300, it should be pretty good for a couple of years. The hawks will stay away, and the angels and butterflies are a toss up. Normally angels can show a trigger who's boss within reason. What other triggers do you have? How about the amount of rock?

 

[danorth]

I want to add that I'm not an expert at all, but have worked with my share of triggers, and other fish. I just don't believe that they will get 21" in a home tank. I posted last week about a huge queen trigger that is supposed to go nuts and kill all of its tankmates. Well, it still has the same tankmates minus a tang (not sure where it went) and the trigger must be full grown. 2 years with the other fish and hasn't killed them. It just shows the same story that not all fish act the same.

 

[jjj1100]

Thanks for the quick reply, I have a Niger in there now for over 2 years...he is about 4 inches and was in a reef with Antihas, and wrasses etc as hasn't shown aggresion to other fish.

As far as rock goes, I have about 400 lbs, of caves, and tunnels so the small fish should have a great chance if they are being bothered... my Achielies flips out every so often on the butterflies and they just fly through the caves and he looses intrest fast.

 

[sean48183]

No fish bought small will ever reach there full potential in captivity. When I buy a fish I plan on 3/4 there full size with about half being the probable. For instance I have a sailfin tang that I bought at about 3" three years ago and he is only maybe 7" now and they grow 15" in the wild. I don't believe he will get much bigger. Some grow faster than others like my lunar wrasse and snowflake eel but they still are at about half there wild size. I'd say in your 300 and keeping him well fed you should be fine.

 

[FishyMel]

if you get him don't ever get a emperor angel or vice versa! They are not compatible! My angel killed a 4 inch blue line I got and blue lines are mean! It was a death fight, my emp wouldn't except anything but death. It was a pretty brutal, pretty much one way homicide, fight.

 

[cunningham]

Blueline

Blueline

I got a blueline just under 2" he is over 5" now after almost 1 year, I have a 135 gallon with other triggers, he is starting to
hog all the food .I now have to feed at both sides of the tank he is getting more and more aggressive at feeding time. my triggers are the fattest fish I've seen. out of seven triggers he is the most aggressive and if he keeps it up i might have to find him a new home.

 

[kirkaz]

Well since you are looking for opinions, I will put in the blog about this fish from Blue Zoo Aquatics, I have found their fish descriptions to be pretty spot on...

"The gaudy coloration of this fish makes it a great addition to a community tank as a juvenile. As it ages it is likely to become belligerent and very aggressive. Keep with other very aggressive fish that are able to defend themselves. It is probably not a good idea to include Lionfish or less aggressive Surgeonfish in an aquarium with this species. "

I guess I would be inclined to say the average Butterfly or Dwarf Angel would have difficultly "defending itself" against an adult Trigger.