Blue Throat Trigger.....murderer?

[rob G]

I am sick right now, but hope I am wrong.....I have had a blue throat trigger for several years now who has been a model citizen, never bothered coral, clam or small fish. I have had a blue side fairy wrasse in qt for weeks, poor thing has been through hell with flukes and internal parasites but I finally got him through it and was super healthy and eating well. She is about 1 3/4" maybe 2" and not too thick yet, but I have had smaller fish, like a few small gobies and firefish with no issues before. I added her last night at lights out after acclimation and saw her poke her head out of a rock a few times this morning. I overfed today to make sure it was getting something while still shy so it could just be that the trigger has gorged itself to the brim but, I have not seen the wrasse at all since that first glance this morning and the trigger is super fat. Am I being paranoid or has anyone else had a killer blue throat? I don't even see how the trigger could catch it honestly, I have large pieces of pukani that the wrasse could fit into the crevices of but the trigger certainly could not. I guess I can only wait at this point and see if she pokes her head out tomorrow, I was just curious if others experienced them going rogue and developing a taste for smaller fish. I will feel horrible after all this little fish went through to get healthy for that to have been the end.

 

[jsker]

It's a wait and see at this point

 

[sbash]

I am suddenly reminded of this story:


I don't mean to be insensitive, and if your theory is the case, I am sorry for your loss... Triggers are predator fish, it was only doing what comes naturally. Blue Throats are on the more aggressive side when they start getting bigger...

That said, the trigger may not be to blame, a small fish like your wrasse in a large tank (large enough for a trigger) could pass away for any number of reasons and be consumed by "the tank" overnight easily. It is rare when I lose a fish in my 220 that I actually find the body...

 

[HB AL]

If the fish actually died the trigger definetly would have got his fill, I doubt he killed and ate your fish,

 

[eatbreakfast]

If....if the blue throat killed and ate your fish there would be evidence. Triggers don't swallow fish whole but bite chunks. And seldom eat the whole thing. That being said, I find it unlikely that the blue throat killed it.

 

[Eastlake]

^Ditto. I think it's far more likely that the wrasse is hiding out of your sight and will emerge once it's comfortable enough with its new surroundings.

 

[rob G]

If....if the blue throat killed and ate your fish there would be evidence. Triggers don't swallow fish whole but bite chunks. And seldom eat the whole thing. That being said, I find it unlikely that the blue throat killed it.

This was my thought too, I know if I feed the trigger a chunk of shrimp he will almost swim around the tank showing it off as he eats it. I am hoping the wrasse is still hiding. I don't see it yet this morning but it was pretty timid at first in Qt would dart into hiding at any movement in the room so between the tang and the trigger it might just be hanging low. Will see I guess, I will post again if I see the wrasse pop out.

 

[rob G]

Yup, just me being impatient and wanting to see a happy healthy fish swimming around the DT after that heck of a QT period. The wrasse just came out of hiding for a second after feeding and looks just fine. Thanks for everyone's replies!

 

[4FordFamily]

If....if the blue throat killed and ate your fish there would be evidence. Triggers don't swallow fish whole but bite chunks. And seldom eat the whole thing. That being said, I find it unlikely that the blue throat killed it.

My thoughts exactly. Triggers tend to eat the stomachs and softer areas of their prey first, but there would definitely be scraps. In addition, blue throats in my experience are opportunists, rather than hunters of fish. Even still, I've seen them pay no mind to a dead fish they could eat. Small inverts CAN be a different story.

I suspect your wrasse is hiding/dead and your trigger likes to eat. I hope your fish appears and all is well!

 

[rob G]

My thoughts exactly. Triggers tend to eat the stomachs and softer areas of their prey first, but there would definitely be scraps. In addition, blue throats in my experience are opportunists, rather than hunters of fish. Even still, I've seen them pay no mind to a dead fish they could eat. Small inverts CAN be a different story.

I suspect your wrasse is hiding/dead and your trigger likes to eat. I hope your fish appears and all is well!

Absolutely, and based on the history with this one over the years I have never seen aggression towards any fish, if anything I had a sailfin tang who is now in another tank along with a clown (demon clarke that is huge) that would both bully the trigger, never the other way around. Thank you, it looks like all is well as I did see the wrasse a few minutes ago. Just me running out of patience and jumping to conclusions that I was even doubtful of.

Thanks!

 

[4FordFamily]

Absolutely, and based on the history with this one over the years I have never seen aggression towards any fish, if anything I had a sailfin tang who is now in another tank along with a clown (demon clarke that is huge) that would both bully the trigger, never the other way around. Thank you, it looks like all is well as I did see the wrasse a few minutes ago. Just me running out of patience and jumping to conclusions that I was even doubtful of.

Thanks!

Glad you found the wrasse!

 

[wmwesty]

I am sick right now, but hope I am wrong.....I have had a blue throat trigger for several years now who has been a model citizen, never bothered coral, clam or small fish. I have had a blue side fairy wrasse in qt for weeks, poor thing has been through hell with flukes and internal parasites but I finally got him through it and was super healthy and eating well. She is about 1 3/4" maybe 2" and not too thick yet, but I have had smaller fish, like a few small gobies and firefish with no issues before. I added her last night at lights out after acclimation and saw her poke her head out of a rock a few times this morning. I overfed today to make sure it was getting something while still shy so it could just be that the trigger has gorged itself to the brim but, I have not seen the wrasse at all since that first glance this morning and the trigger is super fat. Am I being paranoid or has anyone else had a killer blue throat? I don't even see how the trigger could catch it honestly, I have large pieces of pukani that the wrasse could fit into the crevices of but the trigger certainly could not. I guess I can only wait at this point and see if she pokes her head out tomorrow, I was just curious if others experienced them going rogue and developing a taste for smaller fish. I will feel horrible after all this little fish went through to get healthy for that to have been the end.

Any fish will eat any other fish that it can get in it’s mouth!you don’t say how large the trigger is compared to wrasse

 

[eatbreakfast]

Any fish will eat any other fish that it can get in it’s mouth!you don’t say how large the trigger is compared to wrasse

2 posts up, the wrasse came out. Blue throat is not the killer. But based on the size of a blue throat's mouth it would have to be huge and the wrasse miniscule to be swallowed whole, otherwise, a trigger killing a fish will happen as described in previous posts, with biting, tearing, and evidence left over.