Niger Trigger: Reefsafe?

[Ursus]

I read in a guide book that Niger triggers will eat snails and possibly shrimp, but doesn't say anything about fish. Are they one of the safer triggers to include in a reef or should they be avoided?

 

[AndyB4784]

what size tank are we taking about? if it is the 20H i'd say it's going to outgrow the tank in about 6 months. it shouldn't kill your fish though just your cleanup crew and shrimp. i'd skip it so you can keep the crew. JMO.

 

[Ursus]

I really should update my Current tank. I'm running a 75 now. I have no intentions of keeping one, I was just wondering as I've heard mixed warnings about them.

 

[homebrewdude]

Do they eat snails or crabs?
I would like to get one also.

I don't have shrimp

 

[AndyB4784]

they will eat both snails and crabs. i've never heard of one eating coral.

 

[Peter Eichler]

They will also outgrow a 75g tank fairly quickly.

 

[seaduck]

I have one in my 75 gal and he hasn't bothered the snails or crabs...I keep him well fed with mysis and silversides and prime reef. He is only 3 inches long and i've had him for 3 weeks now. I am plan to add a peppermint shrimp soon.....He will probably become an issue as he gets bigger so i may have to trade him in on a smaller one sometime in the future....They r very cool fish, I love the bright blue stripe against the dark blue body...Their fangs turn bright red as they mature.

 

[Ursus]

My friend actually gave me one as he was moving and I had it in my sump for a day before I took it in to trade it. About 4" long in body alone, gorgeous colors, nice, thick, healthy and with some nice streamers coming in. I really wish I had a bigger tank to keep him in, but I'm gonna trade him for a LMB I think. If I can find one that eats some prepared foods that is...

 

[seaduck]

LMB? Somebody with a lrfo tank will snatch that niger right up.

 

[goalieman392]

i had one and he never touched my cbs, but he was small and cbs was huge... he never messed with any other fish and was often intimidated by my clowns lol. he loved mysis shrimp and krill sometimes, and would even eat flakes if they were floating in the water column. He died from burrowing under a rock and the sand gave way and the rock fell on him, so i would make sure you have secure rock work if you do buy one, and i believe the reason he never messed with my shrimp is that the shrimp was in there first, but he would prolly go after any new shrimp as they think its feeding time.

 

[seaduck]

I have a nice cave in a large pc of LR that mine hides in. Good point about the cbs being there first. Im gonna hold off feeding mine krill until after i introduce the peppermint shrimp.

 

[zemuron114]

waikiki aquarium has a 10" niger in their main display (2000 gallons maybe?) Very nice fish. I dont know about the clean up crew though.

 

[aiko670]

I have one in my 120. I've never seen him bother anything including my coral banded shrimp.... Keep in mind that anything is possible though.... If he eats my shrimp it's my own fault....

Good luck!
Adam

 

[homebrewdude]

Do you have tangs or clowns in your 120gal?

 

[minireef30]

Mine ate all of my snails and hermits it could find. Doesn't bother any corals or zoo's. Great fish, but it's getting traded in soon for some more reef safe fish.

 

[homebrewdude]

what type did you have?

 

[minireef30]

Niger