Triggers… reef safe?

newreef1 · Jun 4, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Are they as mean as everyone says?

Honestly I had two, not together at the same time but both same size. They never had a problem with any other fish, never harmed/scared any of the small fish. Even when the other fish stole their food because they’re a little slower than my other fish they were pretty peaceful. I didn’t believe the whole trigger behaviors until my recent trigger gobbled my cleaner wrasse as a snack. I never had any issues with my clown triggers, can’t be a coincidence twice. I’d start with a small to medium size just to be sure. Even my current trigger is pretty peaceful, just happens to eat smaller fish or at least it happened once.

littlefoxx · Jun 4, 2023

newreef1 said:
Honestly I had two, not together at the same time but both same size. They never had a problem with any other fish, never harmed/scared any of the small fish. Even when the other fish stole their food because they’re a little slower than my other fish they were pretty peaceful. I didn’t believe the whole trigger behaviors until my recent trigger gobbled my cleaner wrasse as a snack. I never had any issues with my clown triggers, can’t be a coincidence twice. I’d start with a small to medium size just to be sure. Even my current trigger is pretty peaceful, just happens to eat smaller fish or at least it happened once.

Where did you get your clown triggers from? I was looking for a small juv thinking that would be better. Everyone says once they hit close to adult size they go nuts and kill everything! How long did you have the two you had?

sbbk · Jun 5, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Hey all. Want to add a trigger to my 6 foot tank. 125 gallons, reef. Ive heard that the niger and blue throat triggers are the best bet for “reef safe” will have an eel in there too so no shrimp or anything. Anyone have any ideas?

I have a niger trigger, about 4.5", in my 125 gallon mixed reef, mostly soft coral and LPS. I put the trigger in last. It has been totally fine, showing zero aggression towards fish or coral. It eats all food. I try to feed a small amount various dry foods 2x/day plus one or two frozen cubes a week so the shyest eaters don't starve. I also put in a half sheet of nori about twice a week which most fish, including the trigger, eat aggressively. I think the key to keeping a trigger is lots of cover and entertainment; if bored it will get aggressive and fight with fish and destroy landscape. I would stick with niger or other "reef safe with caution" triggers only.

sbbk · Jun 5, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Where did you get your clown triggers from? I was looking for a small juv thinking that would be better. Everyone says once they hit close to adult size they go nuts and kill everything! How long did you have the two you had?

I think clown triggers are a bad idea. They can become incredibly aggressive plus rearrange or destroy landscape. Tiny ones are cute but they eat a lot and grow. I'd stick with niger or blue throated trigger.

Wasabiroot · Jun 5, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Yeah Ive got a LFS that buys them for store credit if they dont work out. I plan on having brittle starts, halloween hermits, urchins, and big turbo snails as my CUC in that take cause of the eel. Eel is good with hermits surprisingly and doesnt mess with snails

I'd be cautious relying on that policy, not because I don't trust the LFS, but that there is no guarantee they have room on hand to accept the fish. They could have a 5 billion gallon tank though, what do I know lol. Stores that take large fish back are rare; ones that offer store credit and take them back are pretty uncommon where I'm at

littlefoxx · Jun 5, 2023

Anyone know of any inverts I can have with a trigger???

alton · Jun 5, 2023

Clown Triggers as a juvenile they are happy go lucky and easy to feed. As an adult it takes so much meaty food to keep them happy, and your nitrates will go through the roof

Bob Boblaw · Jun 5, 2023

There's really not a for sure yes or no answer for this question but with my experience it hasn't worked out very well.

littlefoxx · Jun 5, 2023

alton said:
Clown Triggers as a juvenile they are happy go lucky and easy to feed. As an adult it takes so much meaty food to keep them happy, and your nitrates will go through the roof

Oh my god its so cute and small!

newreef1 · Jun 6, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Where did you get your clown triggers from? I was looking for a small juv thinking that would be better. Everyone says once they hit close to adult size they go nuts and kill everything! How long did you have the two you had?

I got both of mine from my LFS. The first one I had for a little over a year. The second I had for only a couple weeks (removing live bacteria, increased ammonia killed it, lesson learned). The new trigger I have had for almost 2 months now and it’s pretty chill towards the bigger fish, just ate the cleaner wrasse on its 2 day. I also don’t have corals so no experience if they eat that.

newreef1 · Jun 6, 2023

newreef1 said:
I got both of mine from my LFS. The first one I had for a little over a year. The second I had for only a couple weeks (removing live bacteria, increased ammonia killed it, lesson learned). The new trigger I have had for almost 2 months now and it’s pretty chill towards the bigger fish, just ate the cleaner wrasse on its 2 day. I also don’t have corals so no experience if they eat that.

I feel with the juvenile vs adult thing we all take a risk with many fish. Although some behaviors you know sometimes I feel if the fish stay with the same inhabitants for a while they’ll get accustomed even after getting big. It’s the new additions that are a concern sometimes.

alton · Jun 6, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Oh my god its so cute and small!

I think I paid $10 for it. It took me 25 years to stop the practice of getting juveniles raising them to adults around six inches and trading them back and repeating the cycle because they are so cute and lovable. My best advice is don't start.

newreef1 · Jun 6, 2023

alton said:
Clown Triggers as a juvenile they are happy go lucky and easy to feed. As an adult it takes so much meaty food to keep them happy, and your nitrates will go through the roof

If only I knew lol..