Trigger Fish Questions.

[thegriffer]

This weekend I'm probably going to go pick up a blue throat trigger and I have a few questions. I could just google stuff but that is pretty generic and I want to hear some personal experiences regardless of what type of trigger you have or had.

So here are my questions:

What do you feed them? I'd assume mostly frozen stuff or things with hard shells. But do they eat flake food?

If I were to get a female trigger down the road assuming the first one is a male would that make them extra territorial and aggressive?

Do they ever attack your hands when in the tank? My clowns do but they don't have much for teeth.

I would really appreciate any responses I could get or just some advice. I've kept puffers before but never a trigger fish and I know these guys can have some personality. They may not be the prettiest but something about them gets my attention.

Thanks.

 

[tkiry1]

Blue throats are awesome... They r pretty passive. Jumbo mysis, krill, Clams all work for them.. They can bite but my triggers usually hide when doing maintenance...

 

[4FordFamily]

I'm not a trigger expert but blue threat aren't aggressive, they certainly won't attack you.

Regarding feeding, I would avoid flakes especially, and most pellets and feed frozen or live, even better for fish health.

 

[needbiggertanks]

What do you mean? They are the prettiest. Haha. I looove triggers. Great personality. I have a little Niger in a 75 and he eats everything-frozen, flake, fresh and pellets. Mine will come after my hand if i put it in near the fish but usually stays away from me.

I applaud the decision for the blue throat. I want a juvenile for my new build but afraid i wouldnt be able to give him up in a few years

 

[Maritimer]

My blue-jaw is pretty easygoing when it comes to food.

Frozen blend? Yes, please. Pellets? Om-nom-nom! Flake? Nice for dessert! Nori? Don't mind if I do! Whole clam on the half-shell? This is why I was hatched!

He's never offered to bite me, and is a bit shy - but individuals do vary. He's currently in a fairly crowded 65 gallon tank, but will eventually be moving across the room to a 220 that's now up & running. He was in full male coloration when he arrived here - pale blue-grey with bright royal blue cheeks and yellow edges on his fins - but has since darkened to a much more feminine look - brownish grey with dark edges. The only way you'd know he's a he is that he still shows a 5:00 shadow of blue along his jaw. (My luck to have a cross-dressing triggerfish!)

Like their pufferfish cousins - and any plectognath, really - triggers can really charm, and this one does it in a pretty sweet package.

That having been said - I do suspect him in the disappearance of my colony of sexy shrimp and a few peppermint shrimp as well. He's a triggerfish, after all . . .

~Bruce

 

[tkiry1]

I would stay away from live food. My triggers eat the meaty stuff but they love the ocean nutrition Pellets and nori as well.. Never tried flakes I think my fish would laugh. Lol

 

[leahfiish]

Chiming in with some questions for those who've kept blue throats before - how are they with more timid or peaceful fish - firefish, jawfish, blennies, wrasses? How about snails, cleaner shrimp, urchins, conchs, hermits?

 

[Maritimer]

I keep mine with fish down to firefish and hi-fin red-banded gobies, the trigger pretty much ignores them so long as they don't get between him and food.

Shrimp are a different story.

Sexies and peppermints have vanished, cleaner shrimp seem to be more nocturnal than before the trigger.

Other CUC, I've never seen him take an interest in. (Keep in mind that the time I'm observing the tank is much shorter than the time I'm not . . . )

~Bruce

 

[tkiry1]

For a trigger they r more docile.. They have never bothered anything small I had in my tank.. Smaller wrasses even a few dwarf angels

 

[thegriffer]

What do you mean? They are the prettiest. Haha. I looove triggers. Great personality. I have a little Niger in a 75 and he eats everything-frozen, flake, fresh and pellets. Mine will come after my hand if i put it in near the fish but usually stays away from me.

I applaud the decision for the blue throat. I want a juvenile for my new build but afraid i wouldnt be able to give him up in a few years

Oh haha I think that the Niger is absolutely gorgeous I really like the solid blue color. If anything I think I'd prefer the niger as I have heard they are also quite friendly but usually my lfs only carries the blue throat. Not a huge deal with to me I think either would please me.

 

[tkiry1]

I have had nasty nigers... Almost every one I had to get rid of.. But depends on temperament of the fish...

 

[thegriffer]

Thank you all for the responses so far. Keep it up with the advice I am really appreciating it and I am trying to learn as much as I can from your experience. Thanks again!

 

[thegriffer]

I have had nasty nigers... Almost every one I had to get rid of.. But depends on temperament of the fish...

Ya I have heard from others that a lot of the time it comes down to the individual fish and most of them can be aggressive. They are a beautiful fish I just don't know if it would be worth the risk. That's a big challenge with the hobby but without a challenge there is never really any fun.

 

[tkiry1]

A few of my triggers....

 

[tkiry1]

Two more pics I found.. I love triggers and puffers...

 

[goatcorals]

Had a male and female blue throats. Probably 4-5". They would eat anything. The male did used to chase my rosy headed wrasse which I'd had for a few years so I had to trade them in. Didn't have problems with snails or shrimp. Had a bunch of other kinds of fish and the wrasse was the only problem. May not have really been a problem but the wrasse kept getting chased into the overflow. Not like a mean clown or damsel which can outright attack without laying off till the other fish is done.

Since then I've gotten a niger, but he was only 2". Now he's probably 3 1/2" and he doesn't bother anything. Wondering if smaller ones would be less aggressive?

 

[Mfreddy]

Triggers will chow down on nori, squid tubes sliced and diced, shrimp, krill,oily fish, clams, mussels, flake.... my clown trigger and niger are eating machines.

Niger has a little attitude, doesn't like being pushed around by my emporer angel. They circle and grunt at each other.

Clown doesn't like the tongs I feed the eel with and pick up empty shells. Niger doesn't like the rake I use to smooth out the sand that he likes to rearrange. He head butts it.

They are truly fish with personality.

 

[thegriffer]

I keep mine with fish down to firefish and hi-fin red-banded gobies, the trigger pretty much ignores them so long as they don't get between him and food.

Shrimp are a different story.

Sexies and peppermints have vanished, cleaner shrimp seem to be more nocturnal than before the trigger.

Other CUC, I've never seen him take an interest in. (Keep in mind that the time I'm observing the tank is much shorter than the time I'm not . . . )

~Bruce

Chiming in with some questions for those who've kept blue throats before - how are they with more timid or peaceful fish - firefish, jawfish, blennies, wrasses? How about snails, cleaner shrimp, urchins, conchs, hermits?

Also very good info to know I probably should have asked that in the beginning. I'm sure most people who have no interest in triggers would probably assume they are all generally just an aggressive fish. Thanks guys!

 

[thegriffer]

A few of my triggers....

Very beautiful fish you have there. I really love that puffer. Maybe one day I can have a bully tank. They may not all be reef safe but they are super good looking. Too bad they can't play nice I love puffers.

 

[thegriffer]

Very beautiful fish you have there. I really love that puffer. Maybe one day I can have a bully tank. They may not all be reef safe but they are super good looking. Too bad they can't play nice I love puffers.

And I just realized you have more than one puffer. Wow. Haha lots of fish there. Really liking what you've got going on!