Shy BlueThroat Trigger Help!

B

BKNYx43

New member
Viewing my Blue Throat Trigger in my tank is like almost watching the Lochness Monster siting. Whenever it's out I find myself staring at it in awe because it is never out. I even at times tell my wife not to move because of it. This guy is so shy and it's really annoying. He comes out and eats any food that's left over and any sign of me or my wife moving.... it goes right back in. I have added an Achilles tang with it, and my achilles seem to be coming around slowly and slowly everyday. Is there a faster way I can earn the trust of my BlueThroat? All my other fish come to me when I am near the tank because they know food would be dropped in, or think so lol. But my bluethroat treats me like a the killer of all fish. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks!
 
How long has it been in the tank? They're often relatively shy.
How large is the tank? If the tank is not big enough, there's a good bet the achilles is keeping the trigger in hiding.
 
Lots of triggers are skittish at small sizes - and as mentioned above, blue throats are known to be skittish. That being said I had a 3" one that fed from my hand. Only time will tell I would say.
 
Hey, thanks for the quick replies. My tank is 120 gallon high. I had a male bluethoat trigger before and that one used to come up to glass every time someone walked by. But this guy.... Is soooo skittish.
My achilles is not aggressive at all, if any of my fish are aggressive it would be the Purple Tang. I hope time can help this guy grow some balls.

Do any of you have experience with "food enticers" like the:
New Life Spectrum Finicky Fish Formula 150g 1mm Sinking Pellets
or the
Seachem Entice?
 
BKNYx43 said:
My achilles is not aggressive at all, if any of my fish are aggressive it would be the Purple Tang. I hope time can help this guy grow some balls.
Click to expand...

That could definitely be the problem. You're likely asking for trouble over the long run with those 3 fish in a tank that size.
 
Bt trigs are extremely shy triggers, this is especially true when they are added to a new environment...he will so learn to associate you with food and should become more visable- providing no fish is harassing him..
I do worry that there is not enough lateral room in your tank for these fish...the Achilles is a true swimmer and needs length..good luck!
 
BT's are shy by nature. I had a male BT in my tank that was skittish for about a good week. He's in QT before being added to my DT right now, and only came out during feeding times. I added a female BT, and the same with her. Now they are both out at all times until the lights go out. The female really made the male color up as well. Not sure if they are courting, or about to fight just yet...

BTW: Where did you get the fish? I've learned that fish brought from unmanned fish section of chain pet stores have more issues besides health. Many times, kids will walk up to the tanks and bang on them trying to get the fish's attention. This will make a fish skittish to all humans. If buying locally, I only purchase from dedicated LFS's that pay attenetion to what is going on in their store and discourage such behavior instead of ignoring it...

Best of luck!!!
 
Is your BT a male or female? I've heard that males go for Nori for some reason. Mine loves it.

I was able to get them both eating by stuffing some live brine shrimp with something healthy, then switching over to frozen mysis. There's something about live food in the water column that gets any fish to eat.

Some people say a clam on the half shell works, but I haven't had any luck with that...

Watch the aggression with those tankmates in that size tank. If your BT is getting bullied, he may never come out to eat and may starve, or live in the rocks and eat whatever floats into his lair. This could lead to stress, which leads to other nasties you don't want in your tank...

Do you QT?
 
When I added my pair two weeks ago the male was always out and about. The female on the other hand is still shy but getting better. These fish need time to really adapt to their surroundings.
 
My female BT is getting bolder and bolder... Perhaps too bold. I'm watching her in QT now, and she's actually starting to fin-nip other fish regardless of how much I feed her.

She may not be moved to my DT. Another bonus to QT: See how your fish interact with eachother. Easier to catch them in an empty PVC filled QT than a DT with hundreds of pounds of rock.

She's only been in for about a half week now. I'll give her a chance to settle in before I evict her. LOL.

To the OP, as seen by these replies, fish have personalities too. Some are shy, some are bold, and some are just plain buttholes...

Best of luck with yours...
 
My female BT is getting bolder and bolder... Perhaps too bold. I'm watching her in QT now, and she's actually starting to fin-nip other fish regardless of how much I feed her.

She may not be moved to my DT. Another bonus to QT: See how your fish interact with eachother. Easier to catch them in an empty PVC filled QT than a DT with hundreds of pounds of rock.

She's only been in for about a half week now. I'll give her a chance to settle in before I evict her. LOL.

To the OP, as seen by these replies, fish have personalities too. Some are shy, some are bold, and some are just plain buttholes...

Best of luck with yours...
 
The female on the other hand is still shy but getting better.
f.jpg
 
ps...interestly enough my full male turned female when placed in my dt...made it through 8 week qt process and there was no change in coloration...when put in the big tank with all the other fish- his coloration went female in about 24 hours...
 
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humaguy said:
ps...interestly enough my full male turned female when placed in my dt...made it through 8 week qt process and there was no change in coloration...when put in the big tank with all the other fish- his coloration went female in about 24 hours...
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, while the coloration turned female, the fish was still male. I agree that's really quick.
 
Wolverine said:
Just to clarify, while the coloration turned female, the fish was still male. I agree that's really quick.
Click to expand...

yes, I was referring to coloration only...amazing to see it happen so fast...have read about this occuring but the speed of the transformation was just incredible...
 
Ok. Stupid question... My female BT is bigger than my male, and clearly a little more dominant. Any chances of my female changing coloration to male and my male changing coloration to female?

Also: So, it seems triggers don't actually change sexes like clowns or anthias?
 
humaguy said:
yes, I was referring to coloration only...amazing to see it happen so fast...have read about this occuring but the speed of the transformation was just incredible...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was pretty sure you knew that; just wanted to point it out for those who wouldn't. ;)

CedzAquAddictio said:
Ok. Stupid question... My female BT is bigger than my male, and clearly a little more dominant. Any chances of my female changing coloration to male and my male changing coloration to female?
Click to expand...

Not that I'm aware of on the female side. Possible for the male to go to female coloration.

Also: So, it seems triggers don't actually change sexes like clowns or anthias?
Click to expand...

Correct.
 
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