Xanthichthys auromarginatus (blue throat trigger)

Henryreef

Henryreef

Ocean Lover
I was thinking about getting one as my showpiece fish for a 100gallon tank and wanted some thoughts/experiences with this fish. It seems like a 100 gallon tanks is plenty large for a Blue Throat and because they seem to do well wish coral, I should be fine. Thoughts and comments are wanted!
 
which is odd cuz mine hasn't grown at all (from 4" to 4") for 3+ years in a 150 gallon. Those ones that come in 6+ in the LFS look like they would command a larger aquarium, but i'm still patiently waiting for mine to grow.
 
Wolverine said:
I was with you up to this comment. IMO, 100g is not nearly large enough for an adult (ie active) bluethroat.
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That is weird because my research came up with this:

Scientific Name: Xanthichthys auromarginatus
Alt Scientific Name:
Common Name: Blue Throat Trigger
Alt Common Name: Blue Throated Triggerfish, Blue Throat Triggerfish
Group: Triggers (Triggerfish)
Family: Balistidae
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: Natal, South Africa and the Mascarene Is. (comprised of Réunion, Mauritius and Rodriguez) to the Hawaiian Is., north to the Ryukyus, south to Cocos Keeling Atoll and New Caledonia.
Adult Size: 9 inches (22.9cm)
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperament: Shy and generally peaceful
 
I have a big bluejaw in my 180, I would say they should be in a tank no smaller than a 150. They do need caves for their resting period, during the day, mine just swims about and enjoys the current provided by the tunzes.
 
I think 100 is the minimum...no smaller. They aren't really active. After a while, they get attached to the person who feeds them and sometimes turns into just whoever is walking by. Mine hangs out by the side of the tank constantly looking out and watching everyone that walks by. Unless you have aggressive fish in the tank and it obviously isn't overstocked for the future, a 100 is absolutely fine. They don't swim back and forth like a tang or a large wrasse and they are so gentle that they won't go after people. I would suggest like the others that there are plenty of hiding places as they are very shy...especially when someone walks by the tank.
 
Henryreef said:
That is weird because my research came up with this:
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It's probably best not to trust the tank sizes from someone who has an interest in selling you a fish. They don't want to restrict the customer base by making tank sizes to restrictive. (Many of the books also underestimate the sizes, including Scott Michael, though for different reasons.)

Remember that those recommendations are absolute minimums, not optimums (let's try to avoid turning this into the old "only leaving them in the ocean is optimum" arguments).
 
Slight thread hijack:

Do you think it would be ok to keep one in a 150 along with a group of 10, adult size blue eye cardinals? I would purchase it as a juvie and the cards would be established first.
 
Wolverine said:
It's probably best not to trust the tank sizes from someone who has an interest in selling you a fish. They don't want to restrict the customer base by making tank sizes to restrictive. (Many of the books also underestimate the sizes, including Scott Michael, though for different reasons.)

Remember that those recommendations are absolute minimums, not optimums (let's try to avoid turning this into the old "only leaving them in the ocean is optimum" arguments).
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That is a good point, but still, how did you decide your min. tank size?
 
I think under the right tank size and good amount of food without having to compete they can grow pretty fast. Two years ago when I upgraded to a 180g I got a pair of 4" that grew pretty fast in only 2-3 months and at that time I feed 3-4 times a day with light stocking. A little over three months ago I got a pair that's 3.5 & 3.25" which currently is in a 75g waiting to be introduced to a 125g and both haven't grown much which could be result of competition for food from the other larger fish and I'm only feeding twice a day now.

Chances are if obtained small they will most likely only reach about 6-7" in our tanks. But one thing to consider is many folks here have stressed that their 8" or so Crosshatch trigs are not happy in smaller tanks and constantly pacing the front or the back of the tank. And quite a number of folks say those trigs (8"+) need to be in tanks that are 400g+. I can attest to the pacing as I've a female Crosshatch that has grew quite a bit in the past year in which I've to find a new home for her soon as my tank upgrade is not moving quick enough.
 
Interesting.... I have also seen variation in the maximum size from site to site.. Some say 11-12" others only 7-9".
 
Henryreef said:
That is a good point, but still, how did you decide your min. tank size?
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There's frankly no good objective way to do it right now. A lot of it has to do with experience, and not just mine; I had the advantage that the LFS I used to work for did tank maintenance, so I got to gain a lot of experience with things that I couldn't have afforded to do on my own.
That's what makes places like this so useful. You can bounce your ideas off of others, and there are very few things out there that haven't already been tried. With some fishes, I'm comfortable enough with my own experience to make my recommendations. With others, I defer to those who I know have more experience.
 
beware if keeping with smaller fish.. after a bit of time mine wreaked havoc on everything he could get in his mouth.... had to get rid of it... too bad
 
Triggerfish said:
beware if keeping with smaller fish.. after a bit of time mine wreaked havoc on everything he could get in his mouth.... had to get rid of it... too bad
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Yeah I have heard the horror stories... but in general this is one of the safer ones to get, right?
 
I would vote 100 is to small for a full grown blue throat. I had 2 males, and eventually sold one due to aggression in a 180. The larger of the 2 seemed less comfortable with the confined conditions and was aggressive at times, eating a watchman goby I introduced. He would not touch smaller fish that were already established.

If you were going to try it, I would suggest a small specimen, being careful not to overfeed as they grow quickly. I would make sure all smaller fish you intend on having are already introduced in the tank. Also make sure you have a cave or area the trigger can occupy as his territory. I would also make this the only large fish in the tank of that size. On the + note, they are beautiful, personable and 100% reef safe IME.
 
Pretty sure mine just ate my two new cleaner shrimp...they were fine for two days and the last day I saw them was under a rock that forms a hole where the trigger likes to look out of...
 
saix88 said:
Pretty sure mine just ate my two new cleaner shrimp...they were fine for two days and the last day I saw them was under a rock that forms a hole where the trigger likes to look out of...
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This happens occasionally. The best things to do to avoid it is to make sure the trigger is well fed and never feed live food.
Which were in there first? I've also found the odds are improved if the shrimp are already well established before the trigger is added.
 
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