Tiny Tenement for Temporary Trigger?

[TypicalNoah]

OK - so I've been frustrated with being unable to get my hands on Elacatinus oceanops in South Florida; they're a cool local species, I'm angry they're not stocked enough. Anyhow, I've got a system cycling in my dorm room, empty, waiting for the gobies that don't look like they'll show by the end of the semester. It's starting to annoy me, and I just want to get fish. The system is a drilled 20g that drains into a half-filled 29g sump. I just wanted the extra water volume for safety's sake because of the forgiveness with water changes it could achieve. I've always read about the behavior and hardiness of triggers - would it be safe to get a 2 or 3 " humu humu for the 20g (long)? I would be returning him to the fish store I bought him from in only a few months, so it's not about a long-term growth issue. I just want a cool trigger for a few months in a very chemically adequate system. Will he be too unhappy in 20g? Anyone?

Thanks.

 

[agreeive?fish]

My opinion is if you are not prepared to take care of the fish (any fish) for its life time dont get it

 

[TypicalNoah]

Unfortunately, that's not an option for me. Fortunately, I'm capable of proper care, even though it it temporary. So my only question remains - is 20g a happy home for a 2" trigger? It's a fairly simple question.

 

[Chef Choy]

well, I wouldnt get a huma with gobies.........

 

[TypicalNoah]

No gobies. A species tank: just a trigger. 20g ok for 2"?

 

[sunfishh]

I would say check to see if the place you are buying it will take it back in a year. If they say yes go for it. If they say no then pick a different fish or a different LFS. Definately have a defined exit strategy.

 

[reeferaddiction]

no

 

[mattsilvester]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11927205#post11927205 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TypicalNoah
..... So my only question remains - is 20g a happy home for a 2" trigger? It's a fairly simple question.

My opinion is if you are not prepared to take care of the fish (any fish) for its life time dont get it

..............its a simply answer.

"Proper care" means housing it in a proper permanent home, with proper diet, and a proper environment...... I somehow doubt that a little trigger, properly cared for, would be happy in a 20gal for very long because properly cared for means lots of food and lots of food means fast growth.......... and confining it to a 20 gal at a time when he is (biologically) trying to put on as much growth as quickly as possible is not going to do the animal any favours for the long term........

I'm with agreeive?fish on this one..... 20 gal is not a suitable home unless its q-tine...... so the simple answer, to the simple question, as requested is "Yes, he will be too unhappy in a 20g".

HTH

Matt

 

[AquaKnight]

My parents have a 3" Humu in a 20gal for QT. It is very unhappy to say the least. It floats near the top of the water. All the triggers we've kept previously have been very active once the intial acclimation has happened and swim through out the tank. This guy just floats and then dives into his cave. Triggers are very aggressive swimmers, more then people give them credit for.

So, I feel bad for him being in there for 6 weeks, I couldn't imagine for a couple months.

 

[TypicalNoah]

Excellent. Thanks everyone. I figured it might be a bad idea from the start, but maybe if it was small enough... Just last night I seined off of Virginia Key, FL and caught some 1" filefish and it was hard enough to make myself put them back.

I'll stick to the goby hunt.