Indian Ocean Trigger - Melichthys indicus With Small Fish?

[tanglovers]

Hi,

Does anyone keep this species of trigger with smaller / slower fish like cardinals?

I picked one up from a fellow hobbyist about 3-4 months ago and have really become quite attached to it. It was housed in a tank with yellow assessors and played nice.

I have had it virtually by itself since I have owned it - been in QT then a conditioning tank etc. Anyhow when I was breaking down my 220 I had to move my existing fish into my conditioning system. Long story short a lone 2.5" blue eye cardinal got in the tank with the trigger and he killed it once he got a hold of it.

My big question, is this going to be likely expected long term for this fish? Or is it a matter of a smaller (and stressed due to be netted and moved) fish getting added into its established territory?

I was planning on doing a school of blue eyed cardinals in my tank upgrade (520g) and adding the trigger towards the end but I am currently rethinking this.

Any thoughts, suggestions and experience all appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[pinnatus]

I have had a 6" one for several months, in my 240 gallon mixed reef. The smallest fish I have is a ~2" blue devil. The trigger has been great so far, gets along well with the other fish, and never touches a coral.

Tank mates - Moorish Idol, Achilles Tang, Purple Tang, Scooter Blenny, Yellow Coris Wrasse, Blue Devil, Asfur Angel, Majestic Angel, Rabbitfish.

Great fish so far!

 

[Wolverine]

Mine was relatively aggressive, and was definitely willing to go after smaller fishes; also took out an established cleaner shrimp, which wasn't too surprising.

 

[GoingPostal]

You are much safer adding the small fish first, dropping them in later seems to mean snack to a trigger. I had a pinktail who was added after a established gramma, never bothered him but added a pair of hawkfish and he tried to eat the smaller one for the first few days, thankfully the hawk was fast enough to stay away and after that the trigger would only half heartedly chase him if he got too close, I think it helped a ton that they are perching fish, a small fish in the water column probably wouldn't fare so well.

 

[pinnatus]

I actually saw the first sign of aggression from my trigger yesterday - it chased the rabbitfish fairly seriously. The rabbitfish is a good 1-2" bigger than the trigger, and nothing came of it, but it is the first time I ever saw the trigger show any sign of aggression.

 

[Stuart60611]

I house one now with a small yellow tail damsel, toby puffer and flame hawk without issue. I do think, as pointed out above, the key here is adding the Indicus after the smaller fish.

 

[LargeAngels]

I've never had that trigger, but I had to sell my crosshatch pair cause they were too aggressive towards my dwarf angels and some wrasses.