Undulate Trigger

[JohnnyReef13]

In my opinion, Undulate trigger is one of the most pretty fish. But they are so aggressive! Have you had one? What was your most aggressive?

 

[McPuff]

Yes, I have had one. I agree, very pretty fish. VERY aggressive! This is the most aggressive fish I have had in my life and I have had a LOT of fish. If you get one, make sure it's the last fish you add and it would also be helpful if it is much smaller than the rest of your fish.

 

[JohnnyReef13]

Wow! That's cool! What size did you have it in? How long did it live?

 

[littlefoxx]

Wow! That's cool! What size did you have it in? How long did it live?

Would not recommend you getting another trigger with your current tank being too small and having too big fish in it. These guys are no joke either. @vetteguy53081 has a story about these guy and their aggressiveness!

 

[JohnnyReef13]

Would not recommend you getting another trigger with your current tank being too small and having too big fish in it. These guys are no joke either. @vetteguy53081 has a story about these guy and their aggressiveness!

No, I was not planning on adding one to my 45 gal. Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

In my opinion, Undulate trigger is one of the most pretty fish. But they are so aggressive! Have you had one? What was your most aggressive?

I have had one and yes they are gorgeous but also have teeth and will use them and is the only fish that has actually torn skin from me.

 

[Soren]

In my opinion, Undulate trigger is one of the most pretty fish. But they are so aggressive! Have you had one? What was your most aggressive?

I got my first saltwater aquarium about 4 years ago from a co-worker that was moving and did not want to move the tank. He had several fish in the aquarium including a ~3" Picasso triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus), ~3" Rectangle triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus), and a ~3" Undulate triggerfish.

I kept the tank as acquired for about a year while planning a system upgrade and restock due to concerns about the aggression of the Undulate trigger. Before I was ready, I went into emergency procedures of restocking due to the Undulate trigger going within a couple days from shy/"friendly" to all-out aggression. Within the first day, the Undulate trigger killed the Picasso trigger. I could not capture the Undulate trigger, and the next day while I was at work, it killed the Rectangle trigger. Not sure if this was a direct correlation or not, but my ~18" snowflake eel jumped out the small gap between my screen lids and back of tank and was found dead (though not fully dry) what I assume was a day or so after he jumped. At this point, I tore parts of the aquascape apart until I finally caught the Undulate trigger and gladly gave him to another co-worker that wanted it for his mostly-empty 125-gallon aquarium. Somehow, this aggression spiral resulted in a tank crash and the other fish were lost as well, including a beautiful ~4-5" Purple tang.

Though I love triggers and have a tiny ~1.5" Rectangle trigger in my quarantine for my FOWLR with snowflake eels and butterflyfish, I will never again try an Undulate trigger and hope I do not regret getting even a Rectangle trigger, even though they are known to be much less aggressive typically.

 

[SudzFD]

In my opinion, Undulate trigger is one of the most pretty fish. But they are so aggressive! Have you had one? What was your most aggressive?

I almost bought one. They are stunning fish but definitely aggressive. If you end up with one let me know how it goes. I’ve kept Humu Humu’s which are very friendly, and also clown triggers which at least when small, are quite docile.

I currently have a Niger And he seems quite docile.

 

[littlefoxx]

I almost bought one. They are stunning fish but definitely aggressive. If you end up with one let me know how it goes. I’ve kept Humu Humu’s which are very friendly, and also clown triggers which at least when small, are quite docile.

I currently have a Niger And he seems quite docile.

Until the huma huma gets stressed in a tank move and bites a yellow tang’s snout clean off!!! I had to re home. She went nuts. Was very mellow before but I think the move from the 125 to my 300 stressed her out too much

 

[SudzFD]

Until the huma huma gets stressed in a tank move and bites a yellow tang’s snout clean off!!! I had to re home. She went nuts. Was very mellow before but I think the move from the 125 to my 300 stressed her out too much

Wow!

 

[Soren]

Until the huma huma gets stressed in a tank move and bites a yellow tang’s snout clean off!!! I had to re home. She went nuts. Was very mellow before but I think the move from the 125 to my 300 stressed her out too much

Though I was originally concerned with how small my humuhumu was when I received it due to hardiness concerns, it is doing quite well in my QT and will have a better chance of staying friendly with lower stress if I only move it once to my 125g FOWLR eventually. Starting smaller seems to be better with acclimating to captivity where stress and aggression are concerned.

 

[littlefoxx]

Though I was originally concerned with how small my humuhumu was when I received it due to hardiness concerns, it is doing quite well in my QT and will have a better chance of staying friendly with lower stress if I only move it once to my 125g FOWLR eventually. Starting smaller seems to be better with acclimating to captivity where stress and aggression are concerned.

Mine was under an inch when I got her. Cute little trigger! I am going to get triggers again though since I love them! Shes the only one I had an issue with. I had nigers, and blue throats no issues

 

[Soren]

Mine was under an inch when I got her. Cute little trigger! I am going to get triggers again though since I love them! Shes the only one I had an issue with. I had nigers, and blue throats no issues

Depending on where the length ends, mine is right about 1" from snout to the end of the black line at the base/start of the caudal fin. I agree, they are quite cute at this stage, and Rectangular "humuhumu" triggers are one of my favorite fish, both in appearance and personality!

 

[McPuff]

Definitely would recommend a humu instead of an undulated.

 

[Kaveeks]

Blue throats are the most peaceful tigger I’ve ever owned and I’ve had many.