2 questions about triggerfish..

[dsaundry]

I have a Picasso{Huma,Huma} and so far he hasn't touched any of the frogspawn or torch corals, I also have somp GSP and some Zoo's and Platy's and so far he doesnt show any interest. He does like all the snails he can turn ove and pick at, he leaves the other fish alone as well. In this tank I have a pair of Gold Stripe Maroon clowns, a Blue spotted puffer, a Scribbled Rabbitfish, and a Purple tang. I will stress that this is still more of an aggressive tank and if I was to put any shrimp or small fish in there I think he would take them out. As for reef safe..like people say, you might get one that doesnt touch your corals or fish or you might get one that cleans them out...

[Aquattro]

I've never heard of triggers eating corals, it's not one of their foods. I did have a niger that move them around, but they won't eat the corals. It's more a snail, shrimp and hermit issue. And bite size fishies....I tried a goby years ago with a small niger, it didn't even make it to the bottom

[justinl]

There are two basic groups of triggers. First has upturned mouth for hunting plankton (water column dwellers), the second has a down-turned mouth designed to hunt the benthic zone. For whatever reason, the first group is generally more docile; they are also less likely to go beserk (see below) after time and less likely to munch inverts or smaller fish... no guarantees of course. The second group includes the well known beserkers like clown triggers; they're more likely to terrorize a tank. Strictly speaking, all trigs are coral safe as far as I've seen, but the big guys might knock over coral if it isn't secured properly. examples of the first group include bluethroats, crosshatch, nigers, pinktails, etc. examples of the second group include picasso, clown, undulated etc.

[bv_reefer]

Originally Posted by justinl

There are two basic groups of triggers. First has upturned mouth for hunting plankton (water column dwellers), the second has a down-turned mouth designed to hunt the benthic zone. For whatever reason, the first group is generally more docile; they are also less likely to go beserk (see below) after time and less likely to munch inverts or smaller fish... no guarantees of course. The second group includes the well known beserkers like clown triggers; they're more likely to terrorize a tank. Strictly speaking, all trigs are coral safe as far as I've seen, but the big guys might knock over coral if it isn't secured properly. examples of the first group include bluethroats, crosshatch, nigers, pinktails, etc. examples of the second group include picasso, clown, undulated etc.

thanks alot guys that sums up about everything, one thing i'm worried about is my clam, i know so many fish can't resist nipping at clam mantles, anyone know how triggers are with clams and such? also can't seem to find a blue line but found a redtooth and picasso, which would probably be the the more sensible choice?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by bv_reefer

which would probably be the the more sensible choice?

Is this for your 40g tank? If so, a trigger is not a good choice. They get big.

[Chaloupa]

My bluethroats LOVED clams!

[Brent F]

Triggers usually are not compatible with clams.

Snappy has a couple clams in with his trigger but successfully keeping them together is more the exception. The best hope of success is if the clam is in the tank before the trigger, the trigger is kept well fed and you have a big tank but , even then, be prepared to lose the clam.

Comes down to luck whether an individual trigger will kill the clams or not. Why risk it?

[bv_reefer]

ya it is for the 40 brad, i was planning on getting a juvie. ya i can't risk having all my clams getting wiped out, that is really the only thing thats in the tank thats a problem, i have no sessile inverts, oh well, thanks again for the info