Triggers in Reef??

[NYSharkLady]

Last time I was doing reefs triggers were taboo in a reef, but now I hear that some kinds you CAN keep in a reef?

Can anyone list the types of triggers that ARE reef safe?

Thanks!!

 

[hdtran]

I believe that the niger trigger (Odonus niger) is the only one considered reasonably reef safe.

The meaning of reef safe, as I understand it, is "won't attack corals or anemones (w/ perhaps the exception of the dreaded Aiptasia anemone), won't eat sponges or tunicates, and won't go after your cleanup critters such as snails, hermits, stars, shrimps, etc."

 

[monkeyboy]

The crosshatch will also do, but they get very large and carry a pretty hefty price tag.

 

[ereefic1]

There are a couple of triggers that are 'relativly reef safe'. We have a bluejaw trigger and it's been a great fish. Doesn't bother anything and it's cool as heck.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd say pretty much anything with the 'slung-type' jaw, such as all the aforementioned triggers, along with the sargassum and goldenback. The only exception to this would be a clown trigger.

However, keep in mind that every fish is an individual, and sometimes these fish will bother corals and inverts.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

I've kept a couple of bluejaws over the years, and they never bothered anything in the reef.

 

[Anonymous]

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=37577&start=0

Ah, what a great thread. Basically, ignore everything that "TheZooFarmer" writes, and you'll get some good info.

FWIW, he was banned shortly after this thread.

 

[SpecialK]

I keep a PinkTail trigger in my reef no problems.

Kaye

 

[SpecialK]

But I dont keep clams and thats because of my FileFish.

Kaye

 

[NYSharkLady]

Sharky:

Where did you get your blue jaw? I am looking for a good place to get one. Did you get him on-line?

Also, can anyone reccomend a good place on-line to get any good reef safe trigger?

Thanks!

 

[NYSharkLady]

OH....I just got the new Aquarium Fish Mag for July, and there's an article on this subject! I guess it was good timing!

 

[Anonymous]

Heh... I just read that whole thred Matt- quite entertaining.

I have always admired pink-tailed triggers- maybe one of these days I well give one a try...

 

[leftovers]

there is no reason why you cant keep any trigger in a reef tank... provided you dont want other reef fish, hermits or snails or shrimp....that said so long as algae remains under control its not an issue...

 

[GSchiemer]

there is no reason why you cant keep any trigger in a reef tank... provided you dont want other reef fish, hermits or snails or shrimp....that said so long as algae remains under control its not an issue...

I have a feeling I'm just taking the bait here, but here it goes anyway:

Your statement is not true. There are few genera of triggerfish that are mid-water planktivores by nature and relatively "reef-safe." They typically will not bother hermit crabs, snails, and most other reef fish. The aforementioned Blue-Jaw and Cross-Hatch triggers fall into this category.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

Greg, what are your thoughts on Odonus niger in a reef tank?

 

[GSchiemer]

Greg, what are your thoughts on Odonus niger in a reef tank?

You're gonna drag me into this, aren't you? I've purposely stayed out of the debates over Odonus niger.

Well, if I had a 1500+ gallon reef aquarium, I'd consider it. It simply grows too large and too quickly for even the biggest home reef aquariums. It won't eat corals, snails, or hermit crabs, but it quickly becomes a big boisterous fish, and it will eat new additions of fish that it can fit in its mouth. The bottom line is that I don't recommend this fish as one of the "reef-safe" triggers. There are better choices of reef triggers for the home aquarium.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

Kicking and screaming...since when have you been reluctant to offer your opinion on stuff?

 

[NYSharkLady]

Can anyone post a pic of a cross-hatch trigger?

Also, here's a q that my husband and I are thinking about...

We saw some baby...and I mean BABY clown triggers and some other kind of trigger (something that I've never heard of before) at the LFS today..they were about 1/2 an inch and SO cute....so, if you get a trigger that small and put it in a reef, do you think that they will learn from a young age not to eat the coral since it would be so much smaller than most corals and if it gets stung maybe learn its lesson? It's just something we were thinking about and I wanted to see what you all thought of it.

Thanks!

 

[SpecialK]

BABY clown triggers I am sure others will chime in on this but from what I understand when they grow up they are mean, very mean.... I think you have to worry about all the fish in your tank.....lol

Kaye

 

[Anonymous]

Can anyone post a pic of a cross-hatch trigger?

Also, here's a q that my husband and I are thinking about...

We saw some baby...and I mean BABY clown triggers and some other kind of trigger (something that I've never heard of before) at the LFS today..they were about 1/2 an inch and SO cute....so, if you get a trigger that small and put it in a reef, do you think that they will learn from a young age not to eat the coral since it would be so much smaller than most corals and if it gets stung maybe learn its lesson? It's just something we were thinking about and I wanted to see what you all thought of it.

Thanks!

*Baby* clown triggers have a very poor survival rate. It'd be best not to purchase one at all, even for a FO tank. Triggers learn from a very young age to prey on shrimp, crustaceans, and pick on other fish. I wouldn't ever put a clown trigger in a reef, regardless of age.

Here's a crosshatch trigger...be forewarned that they're VERY expensive...