Undulate Triggerfish Tankmates

[AC1211]

I find it hard to fully believe that this fish cannot be kept with anything outside of monster tanks. I have seen damsels and some triggers mixed with some for the short term but I have 0 long term evidence. I feel like a large clown tang would put it in place. I want to find more info and test some tankmates with these fish. I don't have any yet obviously researh first. Anyone have any first hand experience?

 

[alton]

Back in the 90's I had a 135 which was big for the time. I had five triggers 2" to 5" with the clown trigger being the largest, the undulated being the smallest (2" maybe). The Undulated stayed in the rocks for the most part until feeding time where no one got in his way of the food. After a few months and my nitrates going off the charts I sold all but the clown trigger. My brother in law wanted the undulated. I warned him but he wanted it anyway to add to his 4"+ Niger Trigger. In two days the 2" undulated killed his 4"+ Niger. Brother in law got so mad because he had the Niger for almost a year, he turned off all lighting and refused to feed him. A black algae grew in the tank, and after 3 to 4 months he told me to come get the undulated if I wanted him. To my surprise the undulated got fat eating all the bad algae in the tank. So I took him back in to the fish store and got $10 store credit. Undulated Triggers could go into "Ripley's Believe it or Not"

 

[nereefpat]

Some triggers, when they mature, are truly murderous. I wouldn't keep an undy with anything I cared about. Certain damsels might be a good choice, since they are cheap and expendable.

Do you already have the trigger? What tank size?

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Undulated triggers can be kept with other fish, but it does have to be planned out well. Tank mates have to be ones that can defend themselves. Undulated should be bought small. The tank needs to be fed VERY well fed. IME most triggers can become more docile if fed to the point they don't want additional food for the rest of the day. The issues with this is they will start growing very quickly, nutrients can easily get out of control, as soon as you start feeding less the aggression returns to 100%. So it can be done but it does have to be well thought out.

 

[AC1211]

Some triggers, when they mature, are truly murderous. I wouldn't keep an undy with anything I cared about. Certain damsels might be a good choice, since they are cheap and expendable.

Do you already have the trigger? What tank size?

I don't have the trigger I just love the group as a whole and wanted to keep an undy at least temporarily at some point.

 

[AC1211]

Back in the 90's I had a 135 which was big for the time. I had five triggers 2" to 5" with the clown trigger being the largest, the undulated being the smallest (2" maybe). The Undulated stayed in the rocks for the most part until feeding time where no one got in his way of the food. After a few months and my nitrates going off the charts I sold all but the clown trigger. My brother in law wanted the undulated. I warned him but he wanted it anyway to add to his 4"+ Niger Trigger. In two days the 2" undulated killed his 4"+ Niger. Brother in law got so mad because he had the Niger for almost a year, he turned off all lighting and refused to feed him. A black algae grew in the tank, and after 3 to 4 months he told me to come get the undulated if I wanted him. To my surprise the undulated got fat eating all the bad algae in the tank. So I took him back in to the fish store and got $10 store credit. Undulated Triggers could go into "Ripley's Believe it or Not"

You had it in a multiple trigger tank when small? So they they don't kill when young at least?

 

[AC1211]

Undulated triggers can be kept with other fish, but it does have to be planned out well. Tank mates have to be ones that can defend themselves. Undulated should be bought small. The tank needs to be fed VERY well fed. IME most triggers can become more docile if fed to the point they don't want additional food for the rest of the day. The issues with this is they will start growing very quickly, nutrients can easily get out of control, as soon as you start feeding less the aggression returns to 100%. So it can be done but it does have to be well thought out.

So if they are the smallest fish and fed heavily and introduced to damsels it should work correct? Hmm I may try a tester in 55g with 2 four striped or three striped damsels and a domino with a baby undulate.

 

[Shufflepig]

I find it hard to fully believe that this fish cannot be kept with anything outside of monster tanks. I have seen damsels and some triggers mixed with some for the short term but I have 0 long term evidence. I feel like a large clown tang would put it in place. I want to find more info and test some tankmates with these fish. I don't have any yet obviously researh first. Anyone have any first hand experience?

I’ve always been told that the only good tank mate for an undulated trigger is a rock!!

 

[Halal Hotdog]

You had it in a multiple trigger tank when small? So they they don't kill when young at least?

I kept one with humu picasso trigger, in the right environment they can do well. Both are aggressive fish.

So if they are the smallest fish and fed heavily and introduced to damsels it should work correct? Hmm I may try a tester in 55g with 2 four striped or three striped damsels and a domino with a baby undulate.

This is a mistake. Undulated triggers get big and a 55 gallon tank is definitely not enough room for one. If you keep one in a 55 gallon tank you should expect it to kill everything, or be killed by something more aggressive. These fish need adequate room, and would never consider keeping one in anything less than 6'x2'x2' with ample swimming room as well as hiding places. Damsels are a poor choice for a predator tank as they will become food as the trigger gets bigger. In your first post you mentioned a clown tang, which is also a fish that would be inappropriate for a 55 gallon tank. I feel a clown tang would be a good choice for being kept with an undulated trigger, but you are probably looking at a 240 gallon + size tank.

 

[AC1211]

I kept one with humu picasso trigger, in the right environment they can do well. Both are aggressive fish.



This is a mistake. Undulated triggers get big and a 55 gallon tank is definitely not enough room for one. If you keep one in a 55 gallon tank you should expect it to kill everything, or be killed by something more aggressive. These fish need adequate room, and would never consider keeping one in anything less than 6'x2'x2' with ample swimming room as well as hiding places. Damsels are a poor choice for a predator tank as they will become food as the trigger gets bigger. In your first post you mentioned a clown tang, which is also a fish that would be inappropriate for a 55 gallon tank. I feel a clown tang would be a good choice for being kept with an undulated trigger, but you are probably looking at a 240 gallon + size tank.

I think I was unclear with what I was saying I was saying that I would try one in a 55g first before putting one in a 300g with large tangs and triggers. I would want to test a young 2" one first with damsels in a 55g to learn its aggression. After that I will decide on its suitablility for a larger tank.

 

[Haydn]

My LFS has a Undulate Trigger, it has been sold and returned at least 5 times. Each time the prospective owner has said it'll be fine in my large tank with big fish, every time when it settled it beat up the fish in their tanks. The last time it was a very large clown trigger, among sundry large angelfish and a big Sohal tang in a 10' tank. TBH I'm not sure if a Great white could cope with it.

 

[rkpetersen]

About thirty years ago, before I knew much, I put an undulate trigger in a relatively small tank. It rapidly destroyed the few other fish and crustaceans that were there, so after that it had the tank all to itself. Very smart and personable, Zach was the only fish I have ever named.

He liked to redecorate the tank, constantly picking up shells and small rocks, and dropping them back to the bottom with a klunk. He also quickly learned where the food came from. If I was feeding the tank next to his, he'd bash his nose against the glass, as if saying 'hey, what about me?'.

He eventually got to the point where I'd hand feed him pieces of shrimp and fish. One day, I foolishly kept my hand in the water after the food was gone, 'petting' his sides and back. I guess he got a bit agitated, because suddenly he chomped down on my finger. Ouch! Didn't break the skin but it surprised me and I jerked my hand back suddenly. Unfortunately he hadn't let go, and so was sent flying 6', landing on the carpet. Oh no! Quickly scooped him up and put him back, he was totally fine. And he never bit me again, either.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I think I was unclear with what I was saying I was saying that I would try one in a 55g first before putting one in a 300g with large tangs and triggers. I would want to test a young 2" one first with damsels in a 55g to learn its aggression. After that I will decide on its suitablility for a larger tank.

Good to see there is a large enough tank for him go in. I have never seen an undulated do well in a small tank though, regardless of how small they are. I have seen ones placed in the wrong environment and kill everything, including a powerhead that looked at it funny. Beautiful fish with a lot of personality, but they are definitely not easy to house with other animals. Very doable and I have done it, but the system really has to be geared for it. Also you will be surprised how much they can really eat, nutrients can be a big issue.

 

[nereefpat]

I was saying that I would try one in a 55g first before putting one in a 300g with large tangs and triggers. I would want to test a young 2" one first with damsels in a 55g to learn its aggression.

The problem with that approach is that the nasty triggers (undy, queen, titan, clown, etc) get more aggressive as they grow. Maybe it's maturity thing, or maybe just a size to space ratio thing, but many folks report them being fine...and then they reach a certain size, and a switch is flipped.

 

[lion king]

So if they are the smallest fish and fed heavily and introduced to damsels it should work correct? Hmm I may try a tester in 55g with 2 four striped or three striped damsels and a domino with a baby undulate.

This is a very nasty idea, that undulated will literally grind them up like a meat grinder. Only a sadist would introduce an undulated trigger in anything other than a very large tank with very careful consideration of any tank mates. When they are small, under 5" you can get away with something in the 180g range with other aggressive tank mates, after that a 500 plus. This is really not a joke, the information is out there so there is no excuse, it really is cruel to tempt fate with this fish.

 

[Charles4400]

Wonder if they would get along with a large eel when both are adults.

 

[AC1211]

This is a very nasty idea, that undulated will literally grind them up like a meat grinder. Only a sadist would introduce an undulated trigger in anything other than a very large tank with very careful consideration of any tank mates. When they are small, under 5" you can get away with something in the 180g range with other aggressive tank mates, after that a 500 plus. This is really not a joke, the information is out there so there is no excuse, it really is cruel to tempt fate with this fish.

I honestly might just get a picasso or a clown honestly I do want to see what I can keep with it but there seem to be some crazy horror stories even in 1,000g tanks I will think about it but it will depend my Lfs uhh the owner is trying one is a 280g with 4 small damsels and a full grown (almost) sohal tang it is a 7". I will see the result of that for a year or maybe 2 years. I guess I have a test in front of me then.

 

[Thomashtom]

Undulated triggers can only be housed with other larger triggers like clown trigger. They have like armored plating on them so no fish could do damage to them l!! They literally take chunks out of other fish with their jaws of steel!!! And a 300 plus tank is a necessity for long term. They can and kill anything they want! Thanks

 

[Triggreef]

I’ve always been told that the only good tank mate for an undulated trigger is a rock!!

Even the rocks aren't safe!!

About thirty years ago, before I knew much, I put an undulate trigger in a relatively small tank. It rapidly destroyed the few other fish and crustaceans that were there, so after that it had the tank all to itself. Very smart and personable, Zach was the only fish I have ever named.

He liked to redecorate the tank, constantly picking up shells and small rocks, and dropping them back to the bottom with a klunk. He also quickly learned where the food came from. If I was feeding the tank next to his, he'd bash his nose against the glass, as if saying 'hey, what about me?'.

He eventually got to the point where I'd hand feed him pieces of shrimp and fish. One day, I foolishly kept my hand in the water after the food was gone, 'petting' his sides and back. I guess he got a bit agitated, because suddenly he chomped down on my finger. Ouch! Didn't break the skin but it surprised me and I jerked my hand back suddenly. Unfortunately he hadn't let go, and so was sent flying 6', landing on the carpet. Oh no! Quickly scooped him up and put him back, he was totally fine. And he never bit me again, either.

lucky he didn't break skin!!

 

[boeingn747]

I find it hard to fully believe that this fish cannot be kept with anything outside of monster tanks. I have seen damsels and some triggers mixed with some for the short term but I have 0 long term evidence. I feel like a large clown tang would put it in place. I want to find more info and test some tankmates with these fish. I don't have any yet obviously researh first. Anyone have any first hand experience?

I know this is a old 2 year old post, but I wanted to add some insight for the next person. I have a 480DT 540 with sump Mostly FOWLR with the exception of some (soft) corals. Zoas, GSP, pipe organ, and some mushroom that grow where they can. I currently have a 3-4yr old clown trigger 5"-6", 3yr old niger trigger 4", and similar size undulated trigger, queen angle (transitioning), passer angle (juvenile), Emperor angle (transitioning), French angle (juvenile), porcupine puffer 5"+, gem tang 5-6", purple tang 5-6", blue hippo tang 5" , powder blue tang 4-5", convict tang 4-5", blue eye kole tang 4", white tail bristletooth tang 4", 3 female one male lyertail anthias, harlequin tusk 4-5", 6 blue/green chromis, starry blenny, and neon dottyback. This is a bare bottom tank, over 1lb of live rock per gallon. If I remember right it's around 500lbs. There is a lot of caves, hiding spots, over hangs, dark spots, bright spots. I have all of those fish and I get nothing more than a quick dart from one fish to another here and there. I do feed a moderate amount of food. I consider myself an experienced reefer/fish keeper. I just wanted to offer up my experience with keeping the undulated trigger with other fish and other triggers. I also have a 120gallon sps dominant but mixed reef, with Rockflower nems, BTA, and a lot of coral of all kinds and keep a blue throat trigger in that tank. I have had no issues with the blue throat with other fish or coral.
So for any of you out there that are looking to add a "aggressive" trigger to your tank i have had great success or luck. Now with that being said my fish are not huge yet. But I've had most of them in that tank all around 3.5-4yrs. Hope that will help some of you.