My Male Crosshatch Trigger Died!
- Thread starter Johnsteph10
- Start date
I've had a female CH trigger for at least 3 years now and it's very healthy; although it hasn't grown as much as I would have expected in that time.
I keep my aquarium temperatures on the lower side, with 75-76 during most of the year and 78 during the hottest summer months. I think that temperature may be a factor in long-term success with these fish, as well as the size of the aquarium. Males are open-water swimmers and large fish, so I wouldn't even think about putting one of these fish in anything smaller than a six-foot 125 gallon aquarium.
I recently introduced a 7 inch male CH trigger into the same 500 gallon reef aquarium as the lone female and it is doing well so far. Remember too that these are large and active fish and MUST be fed a few times per day. Signs of starvation can often be overlooked in triggerfish. Look for "pinching" in the dorsal musculature; this is a sign of advanced starvation and is often irreversible despite a "fat" stomach.
I'll keep you posted on the health of my new male CH triggerfish.
Greg
I keep my aquarium temperatures on the lower side, with 75-76 during most of the year and 78 during the hottest summer months. I think that temperature may be a factor in long-term success with these fish, as well as the size of the aquarium. Males are open-water swimmers and large fish, so I wouldn't even think about putting one of these fish in anything smaller than a six-foot 125 gallon aquarium.
I recently introduced a 7 inch male CH trigger into the same 500 gallon reef aquarium as the lone female and it is doing well so far. Remember too that these are large and active fish and MUST be fed a few times per day. Signs of starvation can often be overlooked in triggerfish. Look for "pinching" in the dorsal musculature; this is a sign of advanced starvation and is often irreversible despite a "fat" stomach.
I'll keep you posted on the health of my new male CH triggerfish.
Greg
alikatoes
Premium Member
I think temperature is very important. When I dive for these guys, I usually hit the thermocline. I use a dive computer as my depth gauge, but it also has a temperature gauge. I think the lowest temperature I hit was mid 60's at 170ft. I remember because I was only diving a 2mm wet suit, and bought a 5mm the next day. Keep in mind that I live in Hawaii, but the temps in deep water habitats are way different. Perhaps this is also why deeper species (Bandit angel, Tinker's butt, CH, goldenback triggers) are so challenging to keep, not even mentioning dietary req.
Speaking of diet, what do yall feed your CH? I have 3 lovely ladies right now, and I am feeding them octopus legs. I have hooked CH before (whole bottom fishing) using octo legs, but I dont really think they would be actively hunting these guys in deep water. They are open water swimmers, so they eat plankton? Becasue of specialty habitat, would you assume specialty diet? Anyone disect a CH after wild caught?
