Triggers

[R.Allard]

Does anyone have a Trigger in their reef tank more to the point a
Odonus Trigger (blur faced niger trigger). im getting allot of different stories one person says they are fine and has a couple in his reef tank and are just fine. other people say "stay away they are the Devil" :twisted:
so i was wondering if anyone had one in their tank and if there were any problems i have read a couple books saying that they are peacfull
and have a good disposition tward other fish and inverts and other books,Internet etc says not good for reefs but do well in a community
tank.

Thanks
Robert

[Jenn]

I have 2 together (clown & humu-humu) and they do just fine. The clown was added second, but is twice the size. They are in a tank by themselves w/ a large lionfish. I have thought about trying them in my reef, but then I watch them for 5 minutes, and only imagine what devistation they would bring to my corals.
As for the type you are thinking about, any "trigger" in my opinion would mean trouble for a reef.
I am definitely not talking down the trigger though, I absolutely love these guys. Great personality!
Hope this helps :D

[OrionN]

Some of the trigger are OK for reef tank in a sense that they don't pick on the corals and inverterbrates. If you look at the mouth of the triggers, those that have mouth up turn are often OK because they feed off the water column instead of hunting off the reef structure. They amy go after small fish or shrimps especially if these are added after the triggers. Of the triggers the following are known to do OK in reef tank:
Niger, Blue chin, Crosshatch, Sargassum triggers. Niger trigger will get really big, up to 15-18 inches. Triggers are messy eater and will polute a tank more so than other fish of similar size.
Minh

[Ed]

Robert,

I have both an Odonus Niger and a Blue Throat in my reef tank. Neither have bothered any of the corals, other fish, snails, or crabs in my tank. I suspected the Niger of eating my Peppermint shrimp because I had not seen them in ages, but found one of the Peppermints alive and well last week.

I agree with Minh. The Triggers he mentioned are as 'reef safe' as they come. The Odonus Niger does get large, but not overnight. You might start with a juvenile and enjoy it for years before it outgrows your tank.

Hope this helps a little. Best of luck with your decision.

-Ed

[R.Allard]

Outgrow a 150gallon tank :o ???? and i thought i had a big tank!!!lmao
oh well atleast ill have him for awhile..he is only about 1.5 inches
right now and seems to be leaving everything alone in my sons tank
40gal RR. he ate really well last night giving my sons tang a run for his money but then lodged himself in some rock.

[brewercm]

Robert,
I had a niger in my tank prior to changing over to a reef. He did like to harass the snails that were in there from time to time but never casued any other problems with animals.
They can tend to be a remodeling fish though. If they can move it or remodel the setup to their liking they will. Mine love to burrow out an area of the substrate below his favorite rock. Great fish to watch with lots of personality. I doubt he'll outgrow a 150 very soon.

[R.Allard]

ill have pictures of the 150 soon as im waiting for my RO/DI to fill it :o .....
shouldnt take more than 3-4 D A Y S!!!!!
but pictures of the tank should soon follow with the new lighting and everything.
Robert