Thoughts on a picasso trigger

[Jerry W]

I'm considering re-working my 120 FOWLR. I would get rid of some smaller community fish and keep my majestic angel and masked heniochus. I'm thinking of adding a picasso trigger, which would leave just the three fish. For those with picassos in FOWLR tanks, what else do you keep with them? How is the aggression level? I kept one before as the lone fish in a 55 but traded it after a couple months so don't have hands on with them in with other large fish. I'm aware the behavior can vary from fish to fish but looking for general consensus. My tank is a 60" system btw.
Thanks in advance for input.

 

[marshellman]

trigger fish are great tank mates as long as they are well feed start with a small one do not feed live food if so they well become very aggressive and eat everything

 

[Monkeyfish]

I have a Humuhumu in a 75g tank (soon to be transferred to a 180) with a Klunzinger wrasse, Imperator Angel, porcupine puffer, 3 stripe damsel and foxface. No problems.

A trigger may nip at the heniochus' fin though.

 

[reefergeorge]

Great fish never had any problems.
Tankmates, porc puffer, coral beauty, foxface, sailfin tang

 

[rozzzna]

is it possible to have a picasso with butterflyfish? or will he stress the butterfly to death?

also, will clownfish and picassos work out fine?

i ask this because my boyfriend wants a fowlr tank

and he wants these fish in it:

2 clownfish
2 banggai cardinals
1 copperband bf
1 picasso trigger

and maybe a few tangs..

we only have 1 clownfish at the moment..

our tank is 145g

 

[Monkeyfish]

Depends on the clownfish. Maroons, tomatoes, no problem. Generally, you should avoid mixing species of clowns, but in a tank that size you may be able to pull it off.

 

[rozzzna]

well.. the one we have is a regular ocellaris and we plan on getting him an ocellaris mate.. so it wont be 2 different species

would the trigger be ok with the other tankmates we plan on getting? if not, we have to reconsider what we want or not, so it would be nice to know

 

[krazykarel]

I have my picasso with a tomato clown and no aggression. Granted they are both juvi's <2"

 

[Stuart60611]

I am starting a 125 FOWLR. I am stocking the system around a Picasso Trigger. I have tried to pick fish which would be able to hold their ground while at the same time mostly focused on smaller aggressive fish so that I could house a bunch.

Here are my current stocking thoughts:

1. Picasso Trigger
2. Harlequin Tusk
3. Kole or Yellow Eye Tang
4. Honey Comb or Blue Spot Toby Puffer
5. One Spot Fox Face
6. Flame Hawk
7. Yellow Tail Damsel

 

[Monkeyfish]

Rozzzna - I didn't notice it before, but the cardinals may be at risk with a trigger

Stuart - looks good to me except for the Tusk which, when it gets bigger, will eat smaller fish

 

[Stuart60611]

Monkeyfish:

I have that fear from the tusk also. What I really want to stock in my 125 is the following:

1. Picasso Trigger
2. Purple Tang
3. One Spot Fox Face
4. Rainbow or Paddlefin Wrasse
5. Harlequin Tusk
6. Flame Hawk
7. Honey Comb or Blue Spot Puffer

I feel like this list is more balanced in terms of every fish being able to hold their own against the others. But I am concerned that this is too much fish for 125. Could a 125 handle this?

 

[Monkeyfish]

If it was a 180 I'd say definitely. For a 125 it's pushing things, but can be done if you have a good skimmer and keep up with the water changes. Most of those fish (1-5) can get pretty big. I'm not sure the Tusk will tolerate the Flame hawk when it (the Tusk) gets bigger.

 

[Stuart60611]

Monkeyfish:

Thanks for all your able input. It is challenging to get everything planned out right, but I want to do this right.

Well, after further consideration and reading, I have made some changes. In response to your post, what I have read indicates that the tusk should be fine with the hawk. The tusk appears usually passive with fish. Plus, the hawk is a very fat bodied fish (tall top to bottom) which the tusk should not likely go after. I am most worried about the pinkface with both the tusk and/or the hawk?

My current list:

1. Picasso Trigger
2. Kole or Yellow Eye Tang
3. One Spot Fox Face
4. Pinkface Wrasse
5. Harlequin Tusk
6. Flame Hawk
7. Honey Comb or Blue Spot Puffer

As you can see, I went for the much smaller and more passive tang. My wrasse substitution is basiclaly a wash, and I made the change because I like the coloring on the pinkface more than the rainbow, but both are basically the same fish in terms of size (6 inches) and disposition.

I do not want to totally overload my system. Is this a more manageable load?

 

[Monkeyfish]

Happy 4th of July!

I think that should be okay depending, of course, on the individual personalities of the fish. I'd introduce the tang and foxface at the same time as they have similar coloration and are food competitors. I've kept the 2 together successfully in the past. Just make sure there's plenty to eat - maybe have two algae stations/clips, one on either side of the tank. Other than that (based on what you dug about regarding the hawk/tusk) they should all get along.

The key thing will be keeping up on water changes and getting a good skimmer. When purchasing a skimmer remember to get one that is "bigger" than necessary. If the company/manufacturer says it's good for a 125, go one size up. It's impossible to overskim a FOWLR. A refugium would be a big help too.

 

[StayPuft]

I have a 4-5" Picasso in a 150gal FOWLR. Great fish!!!! It never bothers any other fish. It's much nicer than the Niger, which always likes to stir things up and cause trouble. Only thing it does, is it eats hermit crabs when they're dumb enough to come out during the day.

I have it with the Niger, Powder Blue Tang, Yellow Wrasse, Foxface and a small Queen Angel.

 

[Stuart60611]

Thanks Monkeyfish. I am buying a used system which comes with a precission marine skimmer. I have read that those are pretty good and should do the job hopefully. I agree and planned to introduce the tang and foxface at the same time to avoid a brawl and also plan on using two algae stations, particularly when the trigger is on the scene because I have read that he will also go after nori. I should also mention that the system will have a 55 gallon sump which 1/2 of it will be used as refugium in which I will load up with rock and chateo (already baffled with a light). The system also has dual internal overflows with a mag 18 return which should give me a decent amount of flow. Finally, I will have dual phosban reactos in the sump (1 for carbon and 1 for GFO).

My planned introdution order is as follows:

1. Flame Hawk
2. Kole Tang and One Spot Foxface together
3. Honey Comb Puffer
4. Harlequin Tusk
5. Picasso Trigger
6. Pinkface Wrasse