Trigger in a 120g?

[Cthulukelele]

Are there any reef safe triggers that could live a happy healthy full life in a 120g aquarium?

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

I'm not the expert, but I have a 120 and was considering a red tail (sargassum) trigger or a blue throat, either of which are probably your best bet. I ultimately decided to wait until I had a little larger and longer tank. Live Aquaria recommends a 125 gallon.

 

[corey butler]

I think a blue throat trigger fish may work in a tank that size. Maybe a bursa trigger. Buy a baby and give it a shot.

 

[lion king]

@Sierra_Bravo has the best response, it would be a questionable thing if either of those 2 would truly be happy for their entire life. Those 2 are the only high percentage reef safe triggers, any other would likely not be reef safe very long and their size and aggression would not make them contestants for a 120g. I do have a pair of blue throats in a 210g and they really don't take up much real estate, their habits kind of keep them in a smaller territory. I wouldn't suggest a pair in a 120g and it would also depends on their tankmates. Mine are a solid thick 6 plus inches, I would think in captivity 7" would likely be tops, so consider that with the rest of your fish. Sargassum would be similar in size, habit, and temperament.

 

[Cthulukelele]

@Sierra_Bravo has the best response, it would be a questionable thing if either of those 2 would truly be happy for their entire life. Those 2 are the only high percentage reef safe triggers, any other would likely not be reef safe very long and their size and aggression would not make them contestants for a 120g. I do have a pair of blue throats in a 210g and they really don't take up much real estate, their habits kind of keep them in a smaller territory. I wouldn't suggest a pair in a 120g and it would also depends on their tankmates. Mine are a solid thick 6 plus inches, I would think in captivity 7" would likely be tops, so consider that with the rest of your fish. Sargassum would be similar in size, habit, and temperament.

What tankmates would you certainly avoid? Is there an effective way to tell if a fish is unhappy? My current fish are:
Pair ocellaris clowns
Molly miller blenny
Firefish
Mccoskers flasher wrasse
Yellow watchman goby

My next additions in relative order will be:
Leopard wrasse
Blue star leopard wrasse
Bangai cardinal
Fairy wrasse
Another flasher wrasse
Small group of dispar anthias (on the fence with these)
Green clown goby
Royal gramma
Blue green chromis
Kole tang

The "I like them but may not add them" fish:
Yellow tang
Blue throat trigger

I have a host of inverts the smallest being some peppermint shrimp, emerald crabs, and some hermits. Oh and I'd like to add a derasa and a squamosa clam in the future, but I had heard blue throats were pretty chill with clams. If not, I'd be more interested in the blue throat than the clams

 

[lion king]

What tankmates would you certainly avoid? Is there an effective way to tell if a fish is unhappy? My current fish are:
Pair ocellaris clowns
Molly miller blenny
Firefish
Mccoskers flasher wrasse
Yellow watchman goby

My next additions in relative order will be:
Leopard wrasse
Blue star leopard wrasse
Bangai cardinal
Fairy wrasse
Another flasher wrasse
Small group of dispar anthias (on the fence with these)
Green clown goby
Royal gramma
Blue green chromis
Kole tang

The "I like them but may not add them" fish:
Yellow tang
Blue throat trigger

I have a host of inverts the smallest being some peppermint shrimp, emerald crabs, and some hermits. Oh and I'd like to add a derasa and a squamosa clam in the future, but I had heard blue throats were pretty chill with clams. If not, I'd be more interested in the blue throat than the clams

Considering all your wants, I would say no on the trigger. The only way I would consider such an addition in a 120g is it would have to be a very lightly stocked tank, although they take up a relatively small territory, they don't like being crowded. I forget I;m the only one that really likes sparsely stocked tanks. I have a clown, niger, and humu trigger with a jeweled eel in 180g, that's it. and I love it.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Considering all your wants, I would say no on the trigger. The only way I would consider such an addition in a 120g is it would have to be a very lightly stocked tank, although they take up a relatively small territory, they don't like being crowded. I forget I;m the only one that really likes sparsely stocked tanks. I have a clown, niger, and humu trigger with a jeweled eel in 180g, that's it. and I love it.

Thanks! How sparse do you think you'd want it to be?

What if the want list was more like:
Leopard wrasse
Bangai cardinal
Royal gramma
Kole tang
Blue throat trigger

That would have me at 11 fish in a 120. I'd even consider cutting back the gramma and the cardinal.

Not completely heart-set on getting the trigger--just want to know my options. Thanks again for your insights!

 

[lion king]

Thanks! How sparse do you think you'd want it to be?

What if the want list was more like:
Leopard wrasse
Bangai cardinal
Royal gramma
Kole tang
Blue throat trigger

That would have me at 11 fish in a 120. I'd even consider cutting back the gramma and the cardinal.

Not completely heart-set on getting the trigger--just want to know my options. Thanks again for your insights!

With all the activities of the other fish, imagine a 6-7" fish owning about a third of a 4' tank.

 

[Cthulukelele]

With all the activities of the other fish, imagine a 6-7" fish owning about a third of a 4' tank.

I will use that metric! Thank you!

 

[Jesterrace]

Here is the problem, a standard 120 is a 4 foot long tank and a standard 125 MINIMUM recommended for the Blue Throat and other Trigger is in fact a 6 foot long tank, so even though it's only 5 extra gallons, one tank offers 2 more feet of swim length, which is the most important dimension for them IMHO. These Triggers still can get 9-10 inches in length and can be quite assertive to their tank mates. Furthermore they aren't completely reef safe (they are "with caution"). I would steer clear and go with other fish.

 

[AbnormalReefer]

In my opinion, a 120 may be ok for one bluethroat or pink tail or crosshatch triggerfish. Nigers are reef safe with caution from my experience. However, I wouldn’t put too many big fish with the trigger if you decide on it. I’d say maybe a trigger plus a kole tang or foxface and that’d be it for big fish.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Here is the problem, a standard 120 is a 4 foot long tank and a standard 125 MINIMUM recommended for the Blue Throat and other Trigger is in fact a 6 foot long tank, so even though it's only 5 extra gallons, one tank offers 2 more feet of swim length, which is the most important dimension for them IMHO. These Triggers still can get 9-10 inches in length and can be quite assertive to their tank mates. Furthermore they aren't completely reef safe (they are "with caution"). I would steer clear and go with other fish.

In my opinion, a 120 may be ok for one bluethroat or pink tail or crosshatch triggerfish. Nigers are reef safe with caution from my experience. However, I wouldn’t put too many big fish with the trigger if you decide on it. I’d say maybe a trigger plus a kole tang or foxface and that’d be it for big fish.

I appreciate all of these replies! The critical consensus is kind of what I expected. It is not ideal but probably possible to raise a happy healthy trigger in a 120 if care is maintained in the rest of the stocking list. I have no idea whether I will get one, but it is good to know the options!

 

[joec]

I love triggers, the problem is the get so darn big it makes it tough for all but the largest tanks.