3rdimension
New member
I purchased a 7 inch Female Clown Trigger about 3 months ago. (Females top and bottom fins have pinkish stripes that start appearing around that size, where males develop blue stripes in those areas) Mine has more pinik developing. Anyhow, when I first purchased her and had her in quarantine for about a month, she was in there with green chromis. Every time during feeding, she'd dart after the chromis after she has already had her fill. She never did this any other time, just during feeding. (Competition for food I suppose). Video of that can be seen here. http://youtu.be/1xAQHs1DVvQ
After she was in that quarantine tank long enough from that video, I had her in the main system which is 125 gallons. At that time, I already had a 4 inch passer angel fish and a miniatus grouper which I had to get rid of the grouper since it continuously harassed the Trigger fish. Since then, it's just been the Clown Trigger and the Passer Angelfish along with a few Green Chromis. for the first couple weeks, the Trigger fish minded her own business, no aggression toward any other fish during that time. After 2 weeks, every time after I fed her very well along with the other fish, I would put out some seaweed for the Angelfish to nibble on from a lettuce clip.
The Trigger fish was very irritated by the Angelfish constantly tearing away at the seaweed, so she would automatically dart after the angelfish, not allowing it to eat the seaweed. At first I tried using a reflective mirror to distract the trigger fish, which worked for only about a minute,then she'd get scared of her own reflection and hide out on the other end of the tank, while the angel fish would not stop trying to attack it's self. The Mirror helped in one sense, but defeated the purpose for the angelfish being allowed to eat, since the angelfish was too distracted by it's own reflection. So I took the mirror down.
A few weeks passed by and she wasn't as aggressive toward the angelfish during seaweed feeding, but still made bluff charges at the angelfish periodically. One day when I was placing the seaweed near the bottom of the tank for the angelfish, the triggerfish came right up to my hand, and I tried to shoe her away, she didn't flinch or move, so I tried nudging her away, she wouldn't budge, so I got a little more brave and started to just rub her side to see what she'd do. She just swam in place, allowing me to continue rubbing her side, loving it, as my angelfish continued to eat the seaweed from the clip without interruption. Right then and there, the light switch turned on! That was the solution! without harming or terrifying either of the fish.
Ever since I started doing this as a daily routine every time I put the seaweed out for the angelfish, the triggerfish automatically identifies my hand rubbing and scratching her side for relief and comfort, with the seaweed clip going in. this went on for about a week or so. Then one day when I was in a hurry to get out the door after feeding, I didn't have any time to give her a belly rub. I noticed that she didn't charge at the angelfish at all, but she sat next to the angelfish as it was eating, expecting the seaweed clip or the angelfish to rub her side. Now I see the angelfish and the triggerfish swimming right next to each other from time to time, as they both are expecting some sort of cleaning service, comfort, relief. This goes on even when there's no food in the tank.
Ever since I started this daily ritual, the trigger fish identifying my hand with a belly rub, then the seaweed and clip with a belly rub and then the angelfish, seeing that it's no threat, The triggerfish will very seldom dart after the angelfish now and has mellowed out quite a lot! I believe the reason this has happened is because I have been keeping her full and happy in her tummy and giving her a little extra attention and some Tender Loving Care. She's spoiled, but I care enough to want to take care of her the best I can with all the filtration, vitamins etc necessary. I'm guessing the other reason this has been successful is because there's not too many other fish to compete with and she knows she's being given extra attention she seeks everyday.
I'm guessing Triggerfish are a very social fish, even if some triggers like the Clown trigger are seen swimming alone in the wild most the time. in a sense, I feel like I'm raising a puppy and not a fish. I thin I have really connected with this fish and done something special with a real breakthrough in understanding Clown Trigger fish behavior as I have tended to her needs through trial and error. They're just a very fussy creature that needs extra love and attention and not just fed and watched. They need real interaction and some seashells and fake plants to play with as well to keep them occupied. Here's another video clip showing what happens every time I put the seaweed in the tank with the lettuce clip.
http://youtu.be/OnXh1gsCxJk
With all that said, I feel I can confidently take on the title of "The Fish Whisperer" when it comes to training this particular fish through learned behavior to get along better with her tank mates. This is something maybe others can try as well to see if it would work for them. I think tank environment and amount of fish and species will take on different results too though. If anyone else was having similar issues with more agressive fish, I'd like to hear what your results are after a while. *Remember* This didn't happen over night! This is something that took a lot of time, love and patience, building up trust for one another.
After she was in that quarantine tank long enough from that video, I had her in the main system which is 125 gallons. At that time, I already had a 4 inch passer angel fish and a miniatus grouper which I had to get rid of the grouper since it continuously harassed the Trigger fish. Since then, it's just been the Clown Trigger and the Passer Angelfish along with a few Green Chromis. for the first couple weeks, the Trigger fish minded her own business, no aggression toward any other fish during that time. After 2 weeks, every time after I fed her very well along with the other fish, I would put out some seaweed for the Angelfish to nibble on from a lettuce clip.
The Trigger fish was very irritated by the Angelfish constantly tearing away at the seaweed, so she would automatically dart after the angelfish, not allowing it to eat the seaweed. At first I tried using a reflective mirror to distract the trigger fish, which worked for only about a minute,then she'd get scared of her own reflection and hide out on the other end of the tank, while the angel fish would not stop trying to attack it's self. The Mirror helped in one sense, but defeated the purpose for the angelfish being allowed to eat, since the angelfish was too distracted by it's own reflection. So I took the mirror down.
A few weeks passed by and she wasn't as aggressive toward the angelfish during seaweed feeding, but still made bluff charges at the angelfish periodically. One day when I was placing the seaweed near the bottom of the tank for the angelfish, the triggerfish came right up to my hand, and I tried to shoe her away, she didn't flinch or move, so I tried nudging her away, she wouldn't budge, so I got a little more brave and started to just rub her side to see what she'd do. She just swam in place, allowing me to continue rubbing her side, loving it, as my angelfish continued to eat the seaweed from the clip without interruption. Right then and there, the light switch turned on! That was the solution! without harming or terrifying either of the fish.
Ever since I started doing this as a daily routine every time I put the seaweed out for the angelfish, the triggerfish automatically identifies my hand rubbing and scratching her side for relief and comfort, with the seaweed clip going in. this went on for about a week or so. Then one day when I was in a hurry to get out the door after feeding, I didn't have any time to give her a belly rub. I noticed that she didn't charge at the angelfish at all, but she sat next to the angelfish as it was eating, expecting the seaweed clip or the angelfish to rub her side. Now I see the angelfish and the triggerfish swimming right next to each other from time to time, as they both are expecting some sort of cleaning service, comfort, relief. This goes on even when there's no food in the tank.
Ever since I started this daily ritual, the trigger fish identifying my hand with a belly rub, then the seaweed and clip with a belly rub and then the angelfish, seeing that it's no threat, The triggerfish will very seldom dart after the angelfish now and has mellowed out quite a lot! I believe the reason this has happened is because I have been keeping her full and happy in her tummy and giving her a little extra attention and some Tender Loving Care. She's spoiled, but I care enough to want to take care of her the best I can with all the filtration, vitamins etc necessary. I'm guessing the other reason this has been successful is because there's not too many other fish to compete with and she knows she's being given extra attention she seeks everyday.
I'm guessing Triggerfish are a very social fish, even if some triggers like the Clown trigger are seen swimming alone in the wild most the time. in a sense, I feel like I'm raising a puppy and not a fish. I thin I have really connected with this fish and done something special with a real breakthrough in understanding Clown Trigger fish behavior as I have tended to her needs through trial and error. They're just a very fussy creature that needs extra love and attention and not just fed and watched. They need real interaction and some seashells and fake plants to play with as well to keep them occupied. Here's another video clip showing what happens every time I put the seaweed in the tank with the lettuce clip.
http://youtu.be/OnXh1gsCxJk
With all that said, I feel I can confidently take on the title of "The Fish Whisperer" when it comes to training this particular fish through learned behavior to get along better with her tank mates. This is something maybe others can try as well to see if it would work for them. I think tank environment and amount of fish and species will take on different results too though. If anyone else was having similar issues with more agressive fish, I'd like to hear what your results are after a while. *Remember* This didn't happen over night! This is something that took a lot of time, love and patience, building up trust for one another.
