Triggers in a Reef! How many of you are keeping (or have kept) them?

[LesPoissons]

I'm super excited about this thread bc i didn't think I could have one in a reef. I have a 220g reef with urchins, snails, cleaner shrimp, and hermit crabs. What would you all suggest? The blue throat seems to be what the majority has and I cant afford the crosshatch. Could I do a Niger or Humu Humu? I have an emperor angel, tangs, foxface, cardinals, a couple clowns, damsels, firefish and chromis and a few others I'm forgetting.

 

[MnFish1]

Good question. I'm curious on this too

have not seen it - blue throat here

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Matyas]

Blue throat trigger in my 90 gallon. He is a great community fish and doesn’t bother CuC, however when i get too close to his cave he loves to chomp on my finger.

 

[Brittany Marie]

I’ve had my Bursa a few months now, he’s a model citizen.

 

[Coralreefer1]

I have had a Blue Throat, Pink Tail and Niger Triggers in reef tanks with no problems.

 

[SPR1968]

Good question. I'm curious on this too

Mine have never spat water out of the tank, but they do make a chomping/grunting noise sometimes

They are cool to watch as they ‘dance around’ together when they are trying to spawn, and then another time all hell breaks loose and they chase each other around the tank like there going to murder each other!

If you want to see some Trigger action see these 3 short videos on my build thread post 119

Monster Build - Shaun's 2000 Litre (530 USG) Living Reef & Red Sea Max S 650 LED Design & Build

Lol... Start at about 21 mins. in the video. You might have to soak the tube in vinegar. I'm keeping my Bubble King. :) He doesn't know how to get in it either! Thought I was watching @2una (Red Sea main pump!) when he started with the fast hands lol! Why would soaking the tube in vinager...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[SPR1968]

Here’s a few pictures as well

 

[Ecvernon]

I have blue throats in my 150 mixed reef. They spawn monthly. They are pretty aggressive after they lay eggs. I can't put my hands in the tank. Their little bites hurt!

Here is a video of them spawning.

Video: Blue throat trigger fish spawning

Blue throat trigger fish spawning!! When the eggs were released, the other fish went into a feeding frenzy! I've had them for 1 year and 9 months. They were not purchased as a pair. Actually, they had no interest in each other for about the 1st year.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Man, I really miss my niger trigger[emoji53]

 

[jsker]

@jsker did Burt ever bother anything? Other than growing quick? My favorite trigger by far!

Nothing, Burt got along with everyone.

 

[PanchoG]

Does anybody have experience with a Humu Humu?

 

[McPuff]

I've kept a blue throat in my reef previously. It didn't pick at anything, nor did it eat the shrimp I had in there.

I currently have a humu in my lagoon (40 gal trough attached to system) which is filled with softies, lps, and sps. He would certainly eat my shrimp so I have no plans to add him to the DT. But I've never seen him (or seen evidence) pick at any corals. He did kill an emerald crab but somehow the sneaky hermit crabs stay alive (over a year). Gotta say, triggers look pretty great in a reef.

 

[headdr]

Some on this forum say triggers will give off a lot of waste. Anyone have water issues? Will a large enough tank (300 gallon) help prevent aggression?

 

[Alex Costa]

Some on this forum say triggers will give off a lot of waste. Anyone have water issues? Will a large enough tank (300 gallon) help prevent aggression?

They will.....mine didn't cause me troubles because I have only one tang with him in a 2000 liters tank.
If you have a well stocked tank with big fishes, I think that it could be a problem....

For my corals, mostly the sps, the arrive of the trigger was a striking moment

 

[HB AL]

I've always had multiple triggers in my tanks, currently have 3, a Clown, Assasi and Sargassum.
Update just added a baby Blueline, all getting along.

 

[Nikita1981]

I'm triggered. Did not know it was possible in a reef tank. I think the way they swim is very appealing.

Anybody noticed a change in behaviour as they get older?

 

[becca10]

Dang Daniel, I had just about convinced myself to abandon the idea of a trigger in my tank and now it starts all over again!

Seriously, I've always wanted one but was afraid to because I love my shrimp (blood shrimp). I also worry a little about the whole spitting water out of the tank thing...how often is that an issue folks?

My Huma would spit water every night around 5 pm. That’s when I would feed. He knew if I was late. Lol! Could not keep shrimp, snails or crabs for long.

 

[Ecvernon]

I'm triggered. Did not know it was possible in a reef tank. I think the way they swim is very appealing.

Anybody noticed a change in behaviour as they get older?

I only noticed a change in their behavior when they started spawning. They would begin to reserve parts of the tank to themselves for a few days at a time. Other than that they don't bother much other than making the occasional SPS frag.

 

[PanchoG]

My Huma would spit water every night around 5 pm. That’s when I would feed. He knew if I was late. Lol! Could not keep shrimp, snails or crabs for long.

Wow, what did you use as CUC then?