Blue Throat Triggerfish

[bigbenji]

I'm considering purchasing a blue-throat (blue-cheek) trigger because I've read that they're generally reef-safe, and one of the least aggressive triggers. I currently have a lubbock's wrasse and a yellow-headed jawfish. Both of these fish are extremely timid, and prefer hiding all day and come out only to feed. If I add a the trigger I'm afraid they might not come out at all. I also plan on adding a Hippo or Kole tang, and maybe a Coral Beauty. This tank is currently not a reef, but I would like to be able to add coral later. I've also read that if I add a cleaner shrimp before the trigger, the trigger may just leave it alone.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=233

 

[bigbenji]

I was also thinking of adding a Copperband Butterfly.

 

[AIMFish]

I've never kept a Bluethroat in a reef tank, only as new arrivals at the store. They are quite shy at first and are spooked easily by tangs and angels. All I have kept take about 3 days to get situated and come out regularly and eat well. They were kept with peppermint and cleaner shrimp and never caused problems. From your fish choices I would be more concerned about adding the Coral Beauty and Copperband. The Coral Beauty may be fine but I have had several clients need to return them due to their sampling of other pets I would advise against the Copperband unless you were getting it local and actually saw it eating prepared foods. Some start eating prepared foods well but some don't and I think you know the outcome of the ones that don't!

 

[bigbenji]

Thanks, I wasn't sure about the Coral Beauty either but I was told its the least likely dwarf angel to cause problems. I'll make sure the Copperband eats before I buy. I'd like any information regarding the Bluethroat as possible, if anyone else can chime in.

 

[Aaron M.]

Blue throats can get quite big and need a lot of room so think about a place to move it once it gets too big for your 75

 

[dhoch]

I have one in my 180 (check out http://www.danj.com/reef for pics).

He is a fairly good inhabitant. As was allready said he was shy at first, but after a couple of days came out and was about regularly. He has never killed anything (inverts/corals or other fish), but is fairly aggressive at feeding time (in fact he bit my finger one and drew blood).

If one of the smaller fish has food in it's mouth and the trigger has none, the blue chin will chase the other fish trying to make it drop the food so he can eat it.

Dave

 

[bigbenji]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6727343#post6727343 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aaron M.
Blue throats can get quite big and need a lot of room so think about a place to move it once it gets too big for your 75

Dang it, am I really stuck with dwarf angels and gobies? I just want 1 big beautiful fish. Do hippo tangs outgrow 75's?

 

[Bret61081]

I have a small female in my 55G now with a lubbocks wrasse with no problems. the key is to get an active one from the fish store. mine was at the LFS in a large tank for about 2 weeks before I boguht her. she does get aggressive at feeding time but I try to spread the food around the tank so that all thefish can get some to eat! great fish with lots of personality...

 

[nick18tjetta]

I took the plunge last week with a male blue throat. The first few days he just hid behind the rocks, he slowly came out and would swim about the tank testing my sohal tang. Now the he and my sohal don't even act like the other one is there and he swims all around the tank until I walk too close, but he will come out when I feed the tank. I have seen him eat silversides, frozen mysis, frozen formula 1&2. I think he also pick's on the red seawead selects I leave for my Sohal. Also he has not touched my fire shrimp or any other inverts that i know of.

Nick

 

[bigbenji]

It sounds like as long as its introduced after everything else it should be fine. I'm glad to hear it hasn't touched your inverts, as that's my main concern. I'd like to have a cleaner and peppermint. Has anyone tried a Copperband in the same tank with the trigger?

 

[nick18tjetta]

I was more concerned with the sohal giving the trigger a rough time more than anything else.

 

[dhoch]

I have a copperband in with my trigger.

Only issue is if the copperband gets a big piece of food in it's mouth the trigger will chase it to make it drop it...

Dave

 

[cooder24]

i also have a blue throat trigger in a reef, he has never picked at a thing. very, very shy fish. if you dont mind him coming out for les than 1hr total per day, then bye all mean get one. just be warned that he will outgrow the 75g.

 

[dhoch]

cooder24.... mines out all the time... he was shy at first, but now is very social...

Dave

 

[cheeks69]

Blue Throat Triggers are great fish, yes they are shy at first but when they get comfortable they will quickly become your favorite fish. They WILL intimidate fish especially anything introduced after him especially if it's smaller, so make sure he's your last addition. Here's mine shortly before he was eaten by my Haddoni