Who has kept a niger trigger their reef?

[fedukeford]

Thinking about getting a niger trigger for my 125 gallon reef tank. Who has kept one in their reef? What corals and inverts do they eat? Would they be safe with a carpet anemone?

 

[reefjunkie42]

they will eventually much on corals and inverts. If you really want a trigger id look at a crosshatched or one in that general family. They are expensive but also worth the piece of mind because they are pretty mild mannered and the most reef safe trigger available.HTH

 

[Wolverine]

they will eventually much on corals and inverts.

That's not necessarily true. Niger triggers are very unpredictable (even more than other triggers). Some can be terrors, but some are absolutely model citizens, staying in reefs for years; I know several people who've had them in reefs for 10+ years without incident.

I do agree that Xanthichthys triggers are a safer bet.

My advice, if you're set on doing this, is to have a plan to remove the trigger if necessary. It helps if any corals and crustaceans are established before the fish, because it will come to learn that what you add to the tank is usually food.

 

[Flame_Angel]

That's not necessarily true. Niger triggers are very unpredictable (even more than other triggers). Some can be terrors, but some are absolutely model citizens, staying in reefs for years; I know several people who've had them in reefs for 10+ years without incident.

Therein lies the issue with keeping one in a reef. It may be a model citizen for 10+ years, but what happens when it decides to not be one when you're away for the weekend? Do you want to take the risk of losing potentially thousands of dollars of corals and years of hard work?

I agree that it's possible. But it's also irresponsible.

 

[Wolverine]

Therein lies the issue with keeping one in a reef. It may be a model citizen for 10+ years, but what happens when it decides to not be one when you're away for the weekend? Do you want to take the risk of losing potentially thousands of dollars of corals and years of hard work?

I agree that it's possible. But it's also irresponsible.

The risk of that happening, while not zero, is significantly lower than with, say, a huma or a clown trigger. Nigers tend (with definite exceptions) to be more stable in their personality, once established. The harder thing is figuring out where their temperament is to begin with.
Also, as one would expect, based on the shape of the mouth, nigers are much less likely to pick at corals; they primarily go for things in the water column.

I think that if a niger is what you really want as a centerpiece of your tank, then it's reasonable to try. Keeping them well fed, and putting them in after everything else is established will maximize your chances.
It can happen with the Xanthichthys triggers as well; it's less likely, to be sure, but it still happens (again, tending to go for things up in the water, not on the rocks).

 

[jarrod13]

I've kept them in reefs with no problems. I agree with everything wolverine said.

I think it's a stretch to say it's irresponsible, in that case adding ANY fish to a reef tank is irresponsible, there is not a single fish out there that is 100% reef safe, because EVERY fish is different.

I agree, if you want one, make it the last addition, and have a plan to take it out if need be

 

[fedukeford]

Alright so I'm thinking I'll try getting one and if it causes any issues I've got a friend who has a large agressive tank that would happily take the trigger. The one issue is that the LFS has a nice 2" niger in stock but I dont have any already establish coral. This used to be a full blown reef tank until one of my heaters short-circuited and killed all my coral and basically all my fish except for a 8" blue tang. I've begun restocking it with a 4" lawnmower blenny and a pair of 1.5" ocellaris clowns.

I wanted to stock up on fish before I attempt corals again, and was hoping I'd be able to get this trigger at the LFS since it looks healthy, is small, and is eating everything they feed. Is there any way that I could get the fish and still stock more fish afterwards along with coral? Maybe shut the lights off and then add any new livestock so the trigger is less likely to see it as food or is this a complete no-go?

 

[jarrod13]

It's possible. If you get him, try adding some cheap coral first (with the method you described) and see how it works out. If all is good, just keep adding and watch carefully. I always added coral after mine was established without a problem, and he was small like the one you described

 

[MIKE NY]

I kept one in my reef and it was "reef safe" in the fact that it didn't bother any coals, but small fish,some hermit and shrimp were on the menu...

 

[Glazner]

I have kept one in my 280 for about 2 years. No problems with my corals