triggers and reefs

[stempy07]

Starting a reef tank and bar none my favorite fish are triggerfish. What are some of your experiences with triggers and your reef. I am looking at nigers, bluethroats and would REALLY like to get a huma(picasso) though I know they are probably a definite no go though I got some hope when I saw one in a fellow reefers tank

 

[humaguy]

nigers, bt, pinktail, outrigger, kiri, sargassum are the way to go but they could still make a mess in a reef by rearranging, flipping over pieces, and just being their cute destructive little selves...look for tony vargas' article on nigers and reefs, aug 07 auquarium mag....

 

[jorda9095]

blue throats are known to be ok in a reef

 

[stempy07]

Thanks for the info, the sargassum would also make a nice addition

 

[Deinonych]

What humaguy said. Also, remember that triggers tend to be pretty unpredictable. Even "reef compatible" triggers like Xanthichthys spp. can have rogue individuals that will wreak havoc on your tank.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I have had several niger triggers and they got along and didn't cause me problems.I currently have a 3'' niger and a 5'' pinktail.

 

[Wolverine]

What humaguy said. Also, remember that triggers tend to be pretty unpredictable. Even "reef compatible" triggers like Xanthichthys spp. can have rogue individuals that will wreak havoc on your tank.

This.
I tell people that no matter how safe the trigger should be, it's a good idea to have a contingency plan to remove it if necessary.

 

[desjardinii]

I had both a Picasso and a Niger in a mixed type reef of soft corals, nems and macro algae and they were fine (No sps or lps though). The Picasso was the more destructive one if you want to call it that but was only after snails, pods and worms etc. Did bite the LR a fair bit but nothing too bad. Mind you it was only a small one. The Niger was peaceful and not really interested in hunting small stuff around the rocks or digging.

 

[stempy07]

50 gallon refugium and 100 gallon sump on standby!

 

[littlec984]

I have female/male bluethroats in my 200gal and they don't bother a thing, but I also keep them well fed.

 

[piusma]

Pink tail terror

Pink tail terror

My friend added a large pink tail in his tank and it ate 4 small fish overnight. (2 clowns, 1 parrot fish and a small tang) just wanted to bring it up so everyone knows reef safe triggers still have exceptions.

 

[shse666]

You are on borrowed time. My Niger is in the reef. It was the only place I could put him at the time. He was small and got chased out of the Pred tank by a grouper. I wish I had not added him.

He is a big bully now He bites me if I have my hands in the water which makes it a pain to work on the tank.

Don't do it.

 

[humaguy]

My friend added a large pink tail in his tank and it ate 4 small fish overnight. (2 clowns, 1 parrot fish and a small tang) just wanted to bring it up so everyone knows reef safe triggers still have exceptions.

lol, proof, you can never trust a trigger...

 

[jda]

Pink tails, nigers and the like are not planktonic triggers like the X triggers are. I have however, had a pink tail for a long time in a reef and it was a good citizen, but I know that I was incredibly fortunate - it would also eat a whole sheet of nori by it's self in about 10 seconds... it pooped a lot and was not all that reef friendly even though it was reef safe.

I have had sargassum, bluethroats and crosshatches and they were as reef safe as anthias.

Here is an oldie, but goodie:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/hcs3/

 

[EddieJ]

I have a pair of Blue Throats in my 210, great fish and very outgoing and friendly. But, they do like to make a mess with the sand cleaning out caves for themselves. They also eat snails,shrimp, crabs etc... Makes fighting the aptasia tougher because they see a pack of peppermint shrimp as dinner. They pick up snails and carry them all over the tank for entertainment. Great fish and they do put on a show when it's time to spawn!

 

[Rea17]

I have a pair of Blue Throats in my 210, great fish and very outgoing and friendly. But, they do like to make a mess with the sand cleaning out caves for themselves. They also eat snails,shrimp, crabs etc... Makes fighting the aptasia tougher because they see a pack of peppermint shrimp as dinner. They pick up snails and carry them all over the tank for entertainment. Great fish and they do put on a show when it's time to spawn!

Cool experience! Thanks for sharing! I had good luck with my BT, but like any trigger they can be unpredictable.

 

[DragKnee]

My father had a clown trigger nearly 20 years ago in his reef tank, and it never caused any issues. To this day, it's still his favorite fish. It did however bite him once and made him bleed pretty good.