Miniatus Grouper and Clown Triggerfish?

[bix]

Hello everybody,

Just setting up my tank, its a 135 gallon. Would these fish get along in a tank this size?

If so, which one would you put in there first? They are both pretty territorial I know but I figured the grouper can hang out in the live rock and the triggerfish can do flips and stuff.

What do you think?

 

[Wolverine]

A 135 is really too small for a clown trigger long term, and arguably too small for a grouper of tha tsize.

Even in a bigger tank, there's a bigger problem with that combo. Miniatus groupers are often disappointingly cryptic. They hide in the rockwork, and often the only thing you'll see of them is a red blur when they dart out at feeding time. The aggressive nature of a clown trigger reinforces this tendency for the grouper to hide.

 

[bix]

Hmmm yeah I don't want to be cramming the fish into a tank that can't support them long term..

So a Picaso Trigger would probably be a better choice? Would they be just as intimidating towards the grouper?

 

[bix]

Could I maybe go just the clown trigger, or would the tank still be too small?

Even better yet, is there anything that it won't beat up in a 135?? I really want the clown trigger haha

 

[lhm nole]

I had a 240 in a fowlr tank once and when I sold the setup I forgot I had him until he flopped out of a rock when tearing the tank down he always hid and when he would eat he would dart out grab and hide, and if you dont provide them with hiding spots they get really pale looking.

 

[Wolverine]

Could I maybe go just the clown trigger, or would the tank still be too small?

Even better yet, is there anything that it won't beat up in a 135?? I really want the clown trigger haha

That tank is really not big enough for a clown trigger. I think most people don't realize just how big those things get. A picasso (or any other Rhinecanthus) would be a much better option. It still wouldn't help with the miniatus' naturally cryptic nature.

 

[bix]

I hear ya... picasso is a great choice as well, and I want the fish to be happy more than anything.

What would be good options to put in with a picasso?

I like puffers, possibly an eel.

 

[Adam S]

bix what i have come up with for my 120 so far is a picasso trigger, dogface puffer, snowflake eel, tang, wrasse and some damsels. Everybody seems to agree that it would be a safe mix

 

[bix]

I like the dogface puffer and the picasso trigger.... what about throwing a grouper in there instead of the eel?

So how about this:

Dogface puffer
Picasso Trigger
Miniatus Grouper
Large Angel (something like an emporer or queen)

Is the Miniatus still too big??? I love this fish so much and I realize it will hide most of the time... I would rather have it then the eel.. if it is too big what other grouper could take its place in this tank?? Maybe a spotted grouper?

Thanks for all of the help so far!!!

 

[Adam S]

i tried the same thing you are suggesting right now and all i got was no on miniatus and a large angel. They just arent made for our size of tank. You could do a smaller grouper but i dont know which to tell you the truth. Wrasses are cool and so are tangs and foxfaces. Some other small angels would work too but you would need a well established tank b4 adding them.

 

[bix]

The angel could go as well and be replaced by a tang or wrasse if that wouldn't work, it would be a sweet fish but not my favorite... that goes to the trigger/grouper

 

[bix]

Also, did you ask someone about this or did you actually have this combination and it didn't work out?

 

[Adam S]

several people gave me this response and i havent tried it

 

[bix]

Yeah I just saw your thread.... ahhh its so hard to choose

I'm even jumping back and forth between a reef and fish only tank, I really need to make up my mind soon sump will be here next Friday!

 

[Adam S]

i thought about a reef but then thinking of all the extra equipment i would need and how much more work it is took me off that list.

 

[LisaD]

I had your sized tank (a 5' 120). It got small really fast. I ended up upgrading to a 210 so I could keep an emperor angel and some larger fish. You won't be able to keep a mature large angel in that tank.

I think you could keep the puffer, grouper and trigger, but I would substitute another fish for the large angel. Either:

a small tang (e.g. mimic, yellow, tomini, kole);

smaller angel(s) like dwarf, Genicanthus or something from the Chaetodontoplus genus (angels are not beginner fish, IMO);

wrasse - Australian harlequin tuskfish are wonderful fish, if pricey. Very colorful, active, peaceful. I also like the hogfish, like Diana's or Cuban hogfish, which don't get too huge.

Diana's hogfish

a snowflake moray would be fine - make sure the tank is well covered, these are known to be escape artists.

If you have good filtration and plenty of hiding spots, cover, I think you could add 1-2 more fish to the trigger, grouper, puffer, but really not any more. One more would be better - 4 large, high bioload fish in that sized tank is really plenty.

BTW, dogface puffers are available in some really nice color morphs. Look at the black and dalmation dogface puffers from the Solomon Islands.

Also, while picasso triggers are really cool looking, there are some less common triggers from the same genus that are very different and really nice - Assassi, bursa, etc. You could also look at some of the genus Sufflamen triggers. Check out the triggers section on bluezooaquatics and liveaquaria.

Assassi triggerfish

BTW, there are some other nice, smaller groupers to consider as well, unless you have your heart set on a miniatus. For example, miniatus gets 16 inches, leopard hind gets 7:

 

[AngelAddict]

I don't see why a miniatus wouldn't work in that sized tank? They don't get huge like bumblebee or lyretail groupers. Like stated they are reclusive and mostly keep to themselves but can definitely hold their own. My old one stayed in the rocks mostly but come feeding time, he got pretty aggressive. They are one of my favorite groupers, I just think I'd rather have smaller more active fish instead.

 

[LisaD]

I wasn't saying it wouldn't work, just that there are some that are smaller.

 

[bix]

Thanks for the awesome info Lisa!!

Miniatus was my second favorite after the trigger so I'm happy that it will go well in the tank. I'm thinking it will go like:

Dogface Puffer (going to look into different colours that black one is awesome!)
Miniatus
Picasso Trigger
Dwarf Angel (exact type TBD.)

I think 4 will work out nicely, biggest thing is giving them lots of room to roam. I'm going to put a bunch of live rock in there with them so the grouper is happy.

The only issue is I probably can't put any corals in there, but hopefully in the near future I can get a mini reef going too

 

[anbosu]

I had about a 7" miniatus in my 5' 120 and ended up having to take it to the fish store because it was too aggressive in the tank. It bullied and beat up on several fish that I ended up having to remove to save and in the end killed one of my favorite fish, so it had to go. Based on my experience I wouldn't put one in that sized tank unless you are ok with eventually basically just having it in there.