Who HAS/HAD a Clown Triggerfish?

[Reggae Fish]

I think I'm going to a 150 Gallon and I'm not wanting to get rid of any of my currect tankmates.
I am wanting to add a Clown Triggerfish. I am going to get a small one and it will be the LAST fish into the tank.

Fish:
1- Blue Hippo Tang
1- Foxface Lo
1- Fake Clownfish
1- Black Perc
1- Longnosed Hawkfish
1- Large Mandrain
1- Neon Goby
1- Diamond Goby

Other:
2 RBTA's (one clown hosts in each)
2 Serpant Stars
2 Cleaner Shrimp
Hawaiian Featherdusters
Lots of Astrea and Nassarius Snails

A few questions:
#1- Will it eat my serpant stars, snails? If so, what would you suggest for cleaner crews?

#2 Would a larger substrate be better with this?

#3 Would any of my current fish be in danger of being eaten? The gobies hide very well and are not slow.
What about the mandrain?

#4 How realistic would be to think that it would leave the cleaner shrimps alone?

#5 I would love to hear feedback of PERSONAL experiences regarding clown triggers that they have owned or currently own and what kind of enviroment they were introduced to and live in and size, etc...Any suggestions, information, etc... would be extremely helpful!

Thanks,
Justin

 

[rmougey]

Hey Justin,

I've owned three clown triggers over the years. They have always been kept in species tanks, by themselves. Little clown triggers look very cute and are usually well behaved when small. However, as they grow up, they start looking upon their tankmates as potential food. Clown Triggers are programmed to just bite things... if it tastes good, they'll eat it... if it doesn't taste good, they'll bite it again just to make sure.

Attempts at adding tankmates were short lived. Tangs were chased and harassed, wrasses were chased, smaller fish were just eaten.

Snails seem to be fine.... and small crabs will do OK for a while... but there will be attrition over time.

A friend of mine kept a Clown Trigger in a 180. It was a community tank when the little Clown Trigger went in.... and within 3 years, the trigger was the only fish in the tank. He had eaten or killed the other inhabitants. He lived happily in the 180, growing to about the size of a football, over 12 years.

If you really, really like these triggers (as I do), get them their own tank.

-Rob

 

[Reggae Fish]

Did this include the starfish as well?

 

[rmougey]

I have kept starfish with my clown triggers.... usually big ones like chocolate chips or African.... they were usually ignored.... though I distinctly remember that the African was missing most of his 'chips' before I moved him. Star's are pretty safe....
as a general rune.

Urchins on the other hand are not trigger safe..... at all.

-Rob

 

[Wolverine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8359136#post8359136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reggae Fish
Did this include the starfish as well?

I've seen them eat many a starfish. They more commonly go after brittles, serpents, and other longer-tentacled stars, but they'll get chocolates and others if they develop a taste for it.

Dave