How many triggers in a 210 tank

[rdefino]

I currently have a rectangular trigger, blue jaw trigger, sailfin tang and 2 damsels in a 75gal. I have setup a new 210 which they will be moving to. I had them for almost 2yrs together and they have been fine. So fighting at all. The most id the little damsels chase everyone else out of their corner. Would I be able to get another trigger?

I was looking at getting some other fish, like an eel, maybe a clown fish, maybe even a lion. Maybe even an other trigger.

But what's the best way to move them from the existing tank to the new one?

Thanks

[reefergeorge]

I think you could add another trigger. As long as it isn't a one of the 16" plus ones.
IMO I would skip the lion. The triggers could nip at his fins.

[JamesJR]

what kind of trigger do you want?

[kirkaz]

A would avoid doing a Lion with most Triggers, you may get lucky, but the Lion may become a chew toy.

I would think no problem adding another....Pinktail might be a good choice or possibly Black Hawaiian, Bluethroat or Sargassum. I wouldn't take a chance with the "bad boy" triggers though (Undy, Blueline, Bursa etc.).

[LisaD]

I agree with kirkzaz, stay with "mellower" triggers. In addition, you might also consider a dogface puffer, which stays reasonable sized, has lots of personality and can stand up for itself. I think the pink tail would be nice, since the sargassum somewhat resembles the blue jaw.

Going into my 210 are a Hawaiian pink tail trigger, niger trigger, dogface puffer, Australian harlequin tusk, and a few others...

[rdefino]

What are some mellow triggers?

Thanks

[kirkaz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12537140#post12537140 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rdefino
What are some mellow triggers?

Thanks

Well the Blue Jaw/Blue Throat you already have tops the list, I do agree that mixing a Sargassum or Crosshatch (same shape and aggression) would be iffy. Pinktail, Black Hawaiian and Indian would be a small step up in aggression, then another step would be Niger/Redtooth, Huma, your Rec. Huma, Assasi.

I really like Pinktail or B. Hawaiian, you could try to put a female Bluethroat in with what I assume is a Male.

[reefer334]

All triggers can be evil.

If you want to get a few other just add them at the same time, but please qt those new fish before putting them in your new tank!!!
You could use your old tank to do this.

As for moving them it is best to use something you can scare them into and take them out that way rather than net them.
Then put them in a bucket and acclimate them to there new system just like they were new fish.

Haw Black trigger get huge and can become nasty, I had one chasing a 12 inch queen trigger around!!
Try an assai if you can find one or maybe a nice humu humu as these stay smaller than the others.
Pinktails get huge to and have a mean streak that comes with age.
I love Niger's I would get about three of those because they seem to school together and have ton's of personality, there like little puppies plus they are very striking in appearance ounce they hit about 6 inches with the tail streamers and red teeth.

HTH,


Chris

[spamin76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12536646#post12536646 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kirkaz
A would avoid doing a Lion with most Triggers, you may get lucky, but the Lion may become a chew toy.

I would think no problem adding another....Pinktail might be a good choice or possibly Black Hawaiian, Bluethroat or Sargassum. I wouldn't take a chance with the "bad boy" triggers though (Undy, Blueline, Bursa etc.).

Yeah, avoid clowns, undulates, bluelines(not bluethroats), but others would be ok.

I would not add another Rhinecnathus genus trigger - i.e. no picasso, no bursa, no assasi, no lunulas/halfmoons. These guys would likely fight since their bodies have extremely similar shapes and sizes and they are more medium aggressive anyway(at least as far as triggers go).

[spamin76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12537258#post12537258 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kirkaz
Well the Blue Jaw/Blue Throat you already have tops the list, I do agree that mixing a Sargassum or Crosshatch (same shape and aggression) would be iffy. Pinktail, Black Hawaiian and Indian would be a small step up in aggression, then another step would be Niger/Redtooth, Huma, your Rec. Huma, Assasi.

I really like Pinktail or B. Hawaiian, you could try to put a female Bluethroat in with what I assume is a Male.

I think you might be ok with a sargassum, but can't say 100%, they are from really different areas - from my understanding most sargassum come from the carribbean, while the others come from the pacific.

[kirkaz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12537486#post12537486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spamin76
I think you might be ok with a sargassum, but can't say 100%, they are from really different areas - from my understanding most sargassum come from the carribbean, while the others come from the pacific.

Sounds reasonable to me....My Sargassum comes from the Western Atlantic, to my knowledge all Bluethroats come from the Pacific....I also agree with reefer, all triggers can be evil....I do disagree and would say Niger gets larger than Pinktail, and as large as Black Hawaiian, and is more aggressive than either as adults.

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12537597#post12537597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kirkaz
Sounds reasonable to me....My Sargassum comes from the Western Atlantic, to my knowledge all Bluethroats come from the Pacific....I also agree with reefer, all triggers can be evil....I do disagree and would say Niger gets larger than Pinktail, and as large as Black Hawaiian, and is more aggressive than either as adults.




I have seen huge pinktails at the wholesalers.

I have had a few and they grow fast.

Nigers are slow growers and when you have 3 or more they are much mellower in my opinion.

Good points though,
do you have picks of your sargassum?
I have never had luck with those very pretty triggers.


Chris

[LisaD]

pink tails do get big... according to fishbase, 40 cm. I was mistaken, for some reason I have been thinking they stay around a foot.

mine has not been a fast grower, and I've had him a while. so far, he has been a good citizen, but I don't have reefer334's experience.

[spamin76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12537391#post12537391 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefer334

I love Niger's I would get about three of those because they seem to school together and have ton's of personality, there like little puppies plus they are very striking in appearance ounce they hit about 6 inches with the tail streamers and red teeth.

HTH,


Chris

Do you think a 210 is enough room to school nigers? That is some serious fishage - I have seen nigers pushing the 15" mark, not overnight mind you. Mine hit about 9" after maybe 2 years.

[kirkaz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12538078#post12538078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefer334

do you have picks of your sargassum?
I have never had luck with those very pretty triggers.


Chris

He is doing quite well thus far, he was the third fish in. I am a big fan, he has a smaller Niger with him (amonst others) that went in same time, they get along fine thus far, I see the Sargassum give chase but rarely.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/161445IMG_0177.JPG

[LisaD]

sargassums are really pretty fish. I can't imagine schooling 3 good sized nigers in a 210. maybe until they got about 9-12 inches, but not past that size...

[reefer334]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12538629#post12538629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kirkaz
He is doing quite well thus far, he was the third fish in. I am a big fan, he has a smaller Niger with him (amonst others) that went in same time, they get along fine thus far, I see the Sargassum give chase but rarely.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/161445IMG_0177.JPG


Nice fish!!!

I always got them but they only las a week or two.

I might try another in my SPS reef tank.

Chris

[reefer334]

You are right LisaD,
at that size it would not be good.
It will take them a very long time to get that big.


Besides, how many of us have out there have fish that will outgrow our current tanks?

I think we are guilty of that, all ocean fish for the most part get big enough to outgrow 99% of our tanks.

So if we start trying to be truly ethical we would all be keeping small damsels,wrasses and such.

We just need not to go to crazy and be a little educated in our fish buying.

Back to the bottom line I love Niger Trigger's!!!!!!!!

There cheap, full of enthusiasm, tons of personality and always happy to see the one that feeds them!!!


Just my 2 cents.


Chris

[rdefino]

Thanks for all the respones.

Now some of you said to add the triggers at the same time.

I heard I should add 1 fish at a time, maybe 1 a week so the tank can acclimate to them.

I heard to many fish at once can be a shock to the tank.

Thanks again

[LisaD]

I'd add one at a time, shyest first, most aggressive last. You might be able to add the two you already have to the bigger tank at the same time, but watch water quality and be prepared to do water changes if necessary to keep water quality high.

I would be sure the 210 is fully cycled and that you are "feeding" the tank so the nitrogen fixing bacteria population is built up and prepared to take on the bioload.

[rdefino]

I waited for the tank to cycle, I have 290lbs of rock, skimmer/sump and 4 damsels have been in there for over a week.

They seem fine and happy. I have been checking the water and doing water changes when needed.

[LisaD]

You sound good to go! What is your third trigger choice? If it's a shyer one or smaller than the ones you have now, you may want to add first, then add the others. Since they two you have now have been together, I imagine you could add them at the same time. If you wanted to add one at a time, I'd add the blue jaw first, then the rectangular.

[rdefino]

I'm thinking of the niger.

[LisaD]

I'd add the blue jaw, then the niger, then the rectangle. Or the niger, then the other two.

How big a niger will you buy? I bought a tiny one a while ago, and am growing it up in a 55. It and the blue spotted rabbitfish are almost big enough to go to the bigger tank. (I'm afraid to put a fish under 3 or 4 inches in with my Brazilian Dragon moray.)

[rdefino]

I'm hoping to get one that is about 2.5 - 3.5.

Are there any good online sites to buy from?

thanks

[LisaD]

Liveaquaria.com is always good.

I recently purchased a good sized emperor angel and harlequin tusk from reefhotspot.com and was EXTREMELY pleased. I also got free shipping (for anything over $225). I realize you won't qualify for free shipping, but I recall their shipping costs were pretty reasonable.

Nigers are fairly common, inexpensive and generally healthy. If you have a decent LFS fairly close by, you might ask them to order one for you, avoiding a fairly high shipping charge.

[spamin76]

I have ordered from liveaquria on a few different occaisions, every time we have ended up with good livestock, which is better than my track record from some of the LFS around here.