Wanting to get a new predator help me pick.

[Hitman]

I’m trying to decide between getting a Puffer a Trigger a Lion or a Panther Grouper. What are the pros vs cons for each ?

Currently I have the following in my 240 gallon tank.
Fish:
1 - 5” Marine Beta
5 - Clowns 2 are 3” - 4” Cinnamons, the other 3 are 2” - 3” Black and White Ocellaris
1 - 5” Sailfin Tang
1 - 4-1/2” Emperor Angel
1 - 3-1/2” Corris Wrasse
1 - 3” Flame Angel ( The tank jerk lol )
1 - 4” Falco Hawk

Corals:
2 - 10” - 12” Black Widow Anenomes
6 large Hammers
5 Large Octo’s
1 med size torch
2 - med colony’s of gonipora
1 med size blasto Colony
1 6” mini max carpet
1 med Colony of Green mushrooms
3 small lava lamp mushroom colony’s
Some basic zoa’s
A few basic polys
1 small toadstool
1 large devils hand
1 med purple montipora frag
1 med pink sand dollor monti frag

 

[4FordFamily]

A panther grouper, lion, and perhaps even a puffer would make a quick snack of your clowns and other fish. Puffers are known to tear up hard coral and rock to sharpen their beaks. Panther groupers grow very large very quick, I’d highly advise against.

Of your choices, a trigger may be your best option. Some of the more docile triggers like blue throat up to perhaps medium aggression-level choices such as a niger would be a better idea.

 

[eatbreakfast]

What species of puffer and trigger are you considering? There can be great disparity in personalities between species.

Panther groupers will swallow anything they can fit in their mouth.

Some triggers are notoriously aggressive, others are relatively docile.

 

[Hitman]

What species of puffer and trigger are you considering? There can be great disparity in personalities between species.

Panther groupers will swallow anything they can fit in their mouth.

Some triggers are notoriously aggressive, others are relatively docile.

Puffer: I’m leaning towards a porcupine
Trigger: I’m leaning towards a Huma Huma
I’ve never had a puffer or a trigger so I’m totally open for ideas aswell as info. The 3 Black & White Clowns very well will be relocated as our 9 year old son has asked if he can have them in his 55.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Both the porcupine and huma huma can vary greatly in personality. But have found small specimens to be more likely to grow up and be on the calmer side than individuals that are introduced to captivity at a larger size.

 

[Hitman]

Lol kinda like my Flame Angel!!!! He was a cool nice fish, then one day he became the tank jerk and holds the title till this day!!! Lol

 

[coral49]

You can get a dwarf fuzzy lion fish, mine has the best personality acts like a dog an begs for foods. I have mine in large community tank, key is to teach to direct feed from stick in a QT tank before the main tank. But won;t work with a trigger and puffer

 

[lion king]

The puffer and trigger will destroy your reef, maybe not today but one day. Whether to eat, taste, or just chew it up and spit it out. A volitan lion would likely make a meal of your clowns. @coral49 had the best suggestion, stick train a fuzzy in qt; make sure you don't skip this part.