What triggers would you put in a reef?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

What (if any) triggers do you think are suitable for a reef? Which ones would you avoid and why?

I know crosshatch and bluethroats are generally regarded as reef safe (safe-ish?)...what others and under what circumstances?

 

[KingJason]

I have a crosshatch pair and they have become a pain. Almost any new (small-ish) fish have to run for their life or get eaten. If they survive a week or so then the triggers just accept them as kin and they leave them alone. I've tried acclimation boxes and get the same behavior. I literately have to guard the new fish with a net for the first day or so if they come out and the triggers see them.

I've had bluethroats in the past and I never recall them doing this...but maybe I just didn't add smaller fish.

 

[Hemmdog]

I have a blue throat, he’s a saint. The only issue he has caused was steamrolling a few of my acros when he gets scared. But now that he is used to me approaching with food that doesent happen anymore.

 

[GoVols]

Well,
I used to have a deal with my local reef shop.

I'd keep baby clown trigger's and swap them back in when they got that spooky eyed... ;Cyclops look.

 

[nereefpat]

Sargassum would be another one. The three (somewhat) available triggers in the Xanthichthys genus are generally reef safe. They are planktivores, unlike most in that family.

I would only consider any of the others, like a pinktail or niger, in a reef if the the tank was huge....like several hundred+ gallons. Then the tank would be big enough to sustain some bad behavior, and I would put a trigger or two along with an large angel or two and some big tangs, skipping the usual small reef fishes.

 

[Beardo]

I have only ever tried blue throat triggers. Never had an issue with them. Would consider a sargassum but none of the others. Crosshatch are just too expensive for me, while the rest I consider too aggressive.