Any Sargassum Trigger owners out there?

[tah532]

I just purchased one of these beauties and he has been in the tank for 5 days now. He is 4 inches and my question is, how long did it take before your triggers shyness wore off and they started some consistant open water swimming? Mine hangs out in a small cave and comes out every once in a while but shoots back and hides constantly. He is eating large mysis right now so eating isnt a concern. Do you think my Cream Angel and Kole Tang are the problem, or do they just take a while to warm up? Also do they eventually take over as king of the tank or will the Angel and Kole maintain their positions?

[StayPuft]

I have one, great fish! Mine has never been shy from the first day I put it in QT. It's always stayed out in the open and is not shy at all. Coolest fish I have. It's mostly an upper column swimmer, hardly ever goes in the bottom half of the tank.

I wouldn't call him king of the tank though. I'd say both the powder blue tang, queen angel and lunare wrasse are more agressive. But the sargassum doesn't back down either. He holds his own.

[kirkaz]

I introduced my Sargassum early on in my setup knowing how shy they are at the start, that helped he only had one fish to deal with....I wouldn't be surprised if your Sargassum becomes the Alpha fish in your tank with your fish list.....I have a very aggressive list of fish, but the only fish I have ever seen "stand up" to my Sohal Tang is the Sargassum, not very effectively, but he won't back down from him or anyone.

[DEERE G]

Let's see some pics of the Sargassums. Does anyone have one in a reef tank? Thanks.

[kirkaz]

I wouldn't say I have a "Reef Tank" by any means, but I do have some Mushrooms and Leathers in my 240......Here is my 4 inch Sargassum.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/ksrobey/IMG_1099.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/ksrobey/IMG_1107.jpg

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Beautiful little fish kirkaz. How is its temperament? Is it a more curious one or is it shy like most bluejaws and goldenbacks?

[kirkaz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14456855#post14456855 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dante_JoseCuerv
Beautiful little fish kirkaz. How is its temperament? Is it a more curious one or is it shy like most bluejaws and goldenbacks?

He's pretty mellow, but not shy...He occasionally gets into a nasty scuffle with his Niger buddy, and as i posted earlier he is the only fish in my tank to ever attempt to stand up to my Sohal.

He spends much of his day swimming into the current from one of the powerheads, and I can't remember ever seeing him in the bottom half of the tank other than to retrieve a morsel of food.....He does occasionally "spook" easily.

Wonderful fish, I highly recommend in the right system.

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Very cool. I would expect as much from a sargassum trigger. Beautiful creatures.

[DEERE G]

Very nice fish. Do you have any clean-up crew in the tank? If yes, does the Red Tail bother them? I do realize that the fish could be ok in my tank or a problem. Good job with the pic. Thanks

[elecbzerk]

I have one, he was very shy at first. After a few days though he was swimming openly. He loves my Vortech, he plays in the flow all day, and will not let anyone near it. He has remained somewhat shy though, and will usually hide when he notices someone is watching him. some of that shyness may be due to his tankmates though, the Purple tang rules with an iron fin.

[kirkaz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14461181#post14461181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DEERE G
Very nice fish. Do you have any clean-up crew in the tank? If yes, does the Red Tail bother them? I do realize that the fish could be ok in my tank or a problem. Good job with the pic. Thanks

I don't have a clean up crew, but that is due to my Sunset Wrasse and Harlequin Tusk. I am really not sure how he would do with Hermit Crabs, I don't really think he would bother with them.

[DEERE G]

I am now an owner of a Sargassum Trigger. I received one today from Liveaquaria.com. I will post pics later. It is now "lights out" for today. I am sure I will have to wait for it to show it's face for pics.

[tah532]

thats where i got mine as well. let me know how he does over the next couple weeks and if he is as cautious as mine still is.

[DEERE G]

I will def. keep you posted on the progress tah532. Are the colors on yours bright. I am impressed with the packaging the fish came in today. I have never ordered livestock online before. I was leary of buying a fairly expensive fish without seeing it first. I hope all goes well with your trigger.

[fender4string]

Awesome fish. One of these guys is in my must have lineup for when I end up doing a tank upgrade. In the mean time I'll stay jealous of yours :).

[WuHT]

since you say he's eating , then (if u have the time) spend a lot of time feeding in TINY portions periodically.

chances are , the hunger instincts over-ride their anxiety, because there really shouldn't be any predators of triggerfish that you'd keep in your aquarium anyways.

Eventually he'll wise up and just swim towards you no matter what.


In my case I have a triggerfish that swims to me, but my angelfish will bite him, and the triggerfish will just shrug it off and continue "begging" for food. Same case with a heniochus, so i guess its a just hunger/food instinct over-riding their fears

[Flower1459]

I got mine January 31st. He was the first fish I got in my new tank. He was in the open the first day I put him in, but by the second day he was hiding and got a bad case of cloudy eye. I had a feeder stick and babied the heck out of him with vitamins and fresh scallops while he was in his hole. He got over the cloudy eye, but then still wouldn't really come out of hiding. Last week he started coming out after I sat down in front of the tank for a few minutes at at time, but only like 2 inches, from his cave just to see if I had food for him. He would eat and dart back into his hole really quickly. Finally last night, for the very first time, he was out and about and did not hide at all, even though I was doing stuff with the tank and was all over the place. I just added 2 TINY, I mean bite sized for a trigger, naked clownfish on Saturday. He didn't even look at them. I also have him in with some cleaner shrimp and he doesn't bug them at all, they're his buddies and live in his cave with him.

Good luck with him! They're an awesome fish!

[DEERE G]

I got my Sargassum to eat today. I pierced a silverside with a 5/32"dia. clear pvc welding rod and put it in front of it's hole in the rocks. (It is still hanging in the rocks.) The trigger grabbed it and ate it. How long have you folks waited to first see your new Sargassum, Bluethroat, or Crosshatch swim in the open water?

[regina574]

I really like these triggers. I am seriously thinking about getting one for my new tank. Do they seem hard to get to eat, or shy eaters?

[DEERE G]

Mine seems shy but, it has only been here since Tuesday. After eating today it did make an apperance for a few minutes. It looks very nice and healthy. Regina, from what I have read they can be shy for awhile.

[BSchaible]

beautiful fish!!!

[nickiwit]

I just lost my sargassum a little while ago. I had him almost 5 years. My eel accidently grabbed him during feeding and killed him. He is by far one of my favorite fish. I had him in a reef tank. Never messed with shrimp, hermits, small fish. He was shy for a couple of weeks then became very bold. I just ordered another one from Live aquaria.

[DEERE G]

My Sargassum is already my favorite fish... after just a few days. How do you really tell the sex of a Sargassum?

[MrTuskfish]

I think kirkaz describes these guys very well; they are not bullies, nor will they take being bullied. IMO, ideal fish for large, aggressive tanks. Mine came from LA, so I call it a Red Tail Trigger. BTW, I tossed several hermits into its tank, my HT loves them, and the Red Tailed Sargassum scarfed at least two.

[MrTuskfish]

BTW, LA has these guys on sale this week; $89.99, an incredible price.

To Keith: I don't think anyone can tell the sex of Sargassums, without a necropsy. (or whatever the $5 word for "autopsy on dead things" is.)

[The Fish Finder]

Sargassum triggers are my fave triggers. Here's a pic of my old one before i sold my set up. Got him fro Blue Zoo

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/jpp118187/FIsh%20Pics/IMG_0586-1.jpg

[LisaD]

how long have they been living for people? I had the impression they could be a little delicate.