are niger Triggers realy reef safe?

bmw318is · 01/11/2007, 01:22 PM

I was told by my LFS that Nigers are reef safe. I have known the store owner for at least 10 years and he has never given me incorrect information about any fresh or marine fish. But every were i look online says that niger trigers are not reef safe. I have had one in my tank for about 1 week he is about 3 1/2 to 4 inches. He's in the tank with a scopus and blue tank, neon wrasse and 2 osc clowns, and lawnmower blenny, snails hermits (about 35) small green short spin urchin (i think thats what its called) and a serpant sea star. also have several lps abd sps corals.

As of now he is getting along with everyone in the tank. Im just nervous that every website says that niger triggers are not reef safe! so are they?

thanks Paul

Ebmorri · 01/11/2007, 01:27 PM

http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/triggers/nigertrigger/

bmw318is · 01/11/2007, 01:30 PM

thanks Ebmorri thats the best website ive looked at yet gave a great description!

luke33 · 01/11/2007, 01:32 PM

I have heard some that are ok and some that are not. I had one for over 6mths that never touched a thing in a semi-agressive 125g FOWLR and a few softies. After the sixth month, i came home one day and he had eaten all the fins and taken chunks out of my angel, Dogface puffer, and valentine, along with taking chunks out of my shrooms. I didnt know it was him at first until i saw him rip some more on my angel, and since all my fish were in corners and he was swimming around very boldly, just had a hunch. But good luck. They have a jekyl and hyde personality IMO, but are pretty cool fish in the right conditions. He was 4" long.

bmw318is · 01/11/2007, 01:43 PM

thanks luke33 i will watch him like a hawk. I also have 2 skunk cleaner shrip in the tank with him!! i love those two I think they have paired up and have mated cause one has a belly full of eggs?

luke33 · 01/11/2007, 01:46 PM

Definately watch him. Like i said, he was friendly then turned on everything. Luckily the only thing he killed were my zoa's and shrooms. But i think if he gets much bigger he will eat the skunk's. Although my fish have nightmares i'm sure. Expensive snack!

bmw318is · 01/11/2007, 02:12 PM

dude if he eats the skunks Im gona eat him! he will die a painful slow death. Or ill just take him back to the LFS for a credit and get some new skunks!

luke33 · 01/11/2007, 02:18 PM

Yea, i did that with mine! Got a skunk for it. lol Needed a cleaner to help my beat up fish!

rustybucket145 · 01/11/2007, 02:22 PM

You can probably kiss the shrimp goodbye if you keep him in there long enough. Some have been known to turn on snails and hermits also. I just got mine a few weeks ago and I'm still on edge with him. I do have a friend with a FOWLR tank that I have lined up to send him to if he's ever bad.

01/11/2007, 01:22 PM	#1
bmw318is Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha Posts: 50	are niger Triggers realy reef safe? I was told by my LFS that Nigers are reef safe. I have known the store owner for at least 10 years and he has never given me incorrect information about any fresh or marine fish. But every were i look online says that niger trigers are not reef safe. I have had one in my tank for about 1 week he is about 3 1/2 to 4 inches. He's in the tank with a scopus and blue tank, neon wrasse and 2 osc clowns, and lawnmower blenny, snails hermits (about 35) small green short spin urchin (i think thats what its called) and a serpant sea star. also have several lps abd sps corals. As of now he is getting along with everyone in the tank. Im just nervous that every website says that niger triggers are not reef safe! so are they? thanks Paul

01/11/2007, 02:22 PM	#9
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	You can probably kiss the shrimp goodbye if you keep him in there long enough. Some have been known to turn on snails and hermits also. I just got mine a few weeks ago and I'm still on edge with him. I do have a friend with a FOWLR tank that I have lined up to send him to if he's ever bad. __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

01/11/2007, 01:27 PM	#2
Ebmorri Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 662	http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/triggers/nigertrigger/

01/11/2007, 01:30 PM	#3
bmw318is Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha Posts: 50	thanks Ebmorri thats the best website ive looked at yet gave a great description!

01/11/2007, 01:32 PM	#4
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	I have heard some that are ok and some that are not. I had one for over 6mths that never touched a thing in a semi-agressive 125g FOWLR and a few softies. After the sixth month, i came home one day and he had eaten all the fins and taken chunks out of my angel, Dogface puffer, and valentine, along with taking chunks out of my shrooms. I didnt know it was him at first until i saw him rip some more on my angel, and since all my fish were in corners and he was swimming around very boldly, just had a hunch. But good luck. They have a jekyl and hyde personality IMO, but are pretty cool fish in the right conditions. He was 4" long.

01/11/2007, 01:43 PM	#5
bmw318is Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha Posts: 50	thanks luke33 i will watch him like a hawk. I also have 2 skunk cleaner shrip in the tank with him!! i love those two I think they have paired up and have mated cause one has a belly full of eggs?

01/11/2007, 01:46 PM	#6
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Definately watch him. Like i said, he was friendly then turned on everything. Luckily the only thing he killed were my zoa's and shrooms. But i think if he gets much bigger he will eat the skunk's. Although my fish have nightmares i'm sure. Expensive snack!

01/11/2007, 02:12 PM	#7
bmw318is Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha Posts: 50	dude if he eats the skunks Im gona eat him! he will die a painful slow death. Or ill just take him back to the LFS for a credit and get some new skunks!

01/11/2007, 02:18 PM	#8
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Yea, i did that with mine! Got a skunk for it. lol Needed a cleaner to help my beat up fish!