Red Tail Trigger

[elecbzerk]

I bought this guy from Divers Den, and it arrived today. he is still acclimating, I'll take some pics when I introduce him to the tank.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/elecbzerk/image019.jpg

-Mike

[Grouperhead]

Sweet! How large is it? Can't wait to see some pics of him with the dogface and purple tang.

[elecbzerk]

Thanks GH, he is around 4" give or take. After a long acclimation I added him, but he is in hiding right now. Anyone have experience with these?

[sunfishh]

I can't wait to see it in your tank.

[Grouperhead]

I know bluejaws can be a little shy at first, so I would assume the same with sargassums. Give him a little time, and I'm sure he'll be out and about. Are you going to try feeding tonight?

[elecbzerk]

Yeah, I'm going to give it a shot. He was really lively while in acclimation, made me have high hopes of him eating soon. I am very excited about having him!

[elecbzerk]

Thanks Sunfishh, I have the camera "at the ready" for when he comes out of hiding.

[rdubled]

that is one awesome lookin fish, i can see why you bought him. lookin forward to your pics! hope he does well for you!!

[elecbzerk]

Thanx rdubled, I'm very stoked!

[elecbzerk]

Ok, starting to get a little worried, haven't seen him since he went in. Should I go looking or leave alone for now? Never had a fish hide this long.....

[danorth]

It could be a day or more before it wants to come out and swim. Don't go looking, only will prolong the time it takes it to feel comfortable. Bluejaws act like this as well.

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13825833#post13825833 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danorth
It could be a day or more before it wants to come out and swim. Don't go looking, only will prolong the time it takes it to feel comfortable. Bluejaws act like this as well.

Ok, thanks Dan.

[Recty]

My male bluejaw didnt really come out of hiding for over a week, whereas my female (I got both at the same time) only hid for a couple hours then was swimming around great.

[danorth]

No sweat, and don't be shocked if you have to feed it by stick a time or two as well. Each fish is different and I've never owned a sargassum, but have had a few bluejaws. Hell, there are many a trigger I've had to spoonfeed a few days depending on the other tankmates.

[LisaD]

dude, you bought my fish! j/k :)

if I wasn't traveling this weekend, then again next week, I would have bought that fish. I hope he does well for you.

[elecbzerk]

Thanks Recty, I appreciate you guys helping my anxiety...LOL

I hope he doesn't hide for a week. My boys and I are real excited about seeing him. Thanks again!

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13826597#post13826597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danorth
No sweat, and don't be shocked if you have to feed it by stick a time or two as well. Each fish is different and I've never owned a sargassum, but have had a few bluejaws. Hell, there are many a trigger I've had to spoonfeed a few days depending on the other tankmates.

Thanks again Dan. I guess I didn't expect a trigger to be so shy.

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13827349#post13827349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
dude, you bought my fish! j/k :)

if I wasn't traveling this weekend, then again next week, I would have bought that fish. I hope he does well for you.


Hey, you sold me on this one and the DD in Wisconsin. ;) ...I think they have one on the regular LA site....:lol:

What little I saw of him during acclimation, he seemed to be more of an overall reddish color than his online photo. I've got fingers, toes, and whatever else I can find crossed that he does well, you know how much i wanted a trigger.

[elecbzerk]

Update...he is out of hiding. he swims behind the rockwork playing in the Vortech flow, until he see's me and dashes into hiding. Good sign though. I will try to feed him tonight. if he gets a little braver I'll try to get some pics too.

-Mike

[elecbzerk]

Ok, here are a few pics. he ate some PE Mysis and Brine, not much but eating is a good sign. I know I'm posting alot but I am just so stoked about having a trigger. Having built my 75 Reef I always wanted a trigger but never wanted to risk my corals. Thanks for looking!

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/elecbzerk/Sargassumpics001.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/elecbzerk/Sargassumpics010.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/elecbzerk/Sargassumpics011.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/elecbzerk/Sargassumpics012.jpg

[kirkaz]

Congrats, he is a beauty, and they are great fish, and yes, they can be very slow to get comfortable. Mine hangs out mostly at the top of the tank, he sleeps by a powerhead and loves to swim into the current of the PH. They do "startle" easily, but are otherwise hardy and entertaining fish. I am quite fond of mine.

[elecbzerk]

Thanks Kirkaz! The pics really don't show his true color, he is really reddish when he hits the lights the right way. The Purple Tang is being a little aggressive towards him, but nothing to be worried about, just over food.

[Recty]

Cute little fish, it is definitely a good sign that he is eating :)

[Grouperhead]

Very nice!

[elecbzerk]

Thanks recty and GH! The more I watched the more comfortable he was starting to become. he is startled by the DF, but I think that is temporary, the DF really is very gentle.

[Brandon M]

Very nice fish!

[LisaD]

He's beautiful, glad to see he is settling in. Please keep us updated on how he does. I'm not going to buy any more fish until my travel schedule settles down, but I'm in the planning stage. :)

[elecbzerk]

Thanks Brandon! Where is McKinney, close to Dallas?

[elecbzerk]

Thanks Lisa, I'll keep you guys updated. I know it's still early, but I am sold on DD for buying fish online, you were certainly right. Gonna give us any hints as to your stoking plans? Don't just leave us hanging....

[LisaD]

Mike,

I can always use suggestions... Eventually, I'll probably have to find homes for two fish, probably the zebra moray and the black tip grouper.

Here's a preliminary stock list. Fish marked with asterisk (*) are the ones I already have. I am always open to suggestions.

*emperor angel, ~6" adult colors
*blue spotted rabbit fish, ~6"
*porcupine puffer, 5" (if I get a dogface, he will have to go)
*black tip grouper, 8"
*zebra moray eel, 3'+
*Brazilian dragon moray, 2'
wrasse, either Australian harlequin tuskfish or a hogfish
possibly a sargassum or blue throat trigger

I'd like to add two more fish. I want a dogface puffer, and the porc killed my last one. So I should probably lose the porc, though he has grown on me. Or else get a slightly more aggressive puffer to mix with the porc.

I also would like a wrasse, either an Australian HT or a hogfish (probably Diana's or Cuban). I used to have an adult Diana's hogfish, and really liked it.

Maybe add a less aggressive trigger like a sargassum or blue throat. I used to have a gorgeous pinktail, but returned it to the LFS because it was harassing my dogface and an HT (which was the only fish I lost due to a disease outbreak - I think stress from being bullied first by the pinktail, then by the porc (which I got in exchange for the pinktail) contributed to its death.

Sorry for the long post. Bottom line, I'm thinking of trading out the porc for a dogface (preferably a black or dalmation DF), and adding either an HT or hogfish, possibly a mellow trigger.

[elecbzerk]

Well, if your going to trade out the porc, then I think a Dalmation DF would be real nice, (since it's not my budget) ;) But I have always liked Stars and Stripes too, might be able to live with the porc?

As far as a trigger, I'm partial to the sargassum....:cool:

But if your just loaded or won the lotto, then what about a crosshatch? I've always loved them but way expensive.

Now, speaking of stocking list, I have a question for you. As far as my tank, i have the DF, Purple Tang, and now the Sargassum. I am obviously going to give it a month or maybe a little longer, but am struggling with what to do next. I am deciding between a HT (Australian) and a nice angel. what do you think of me adding an Angel? I really like Imerators. Thanks for your help.

[Snapper66]

A Beautiful Trigger Fish..:)

[elecbzerk]

Thanks Snapper66! The more comfortable he becomes the more personality he displays, he is growing on us very quickly.