ClnTrigSel

FAQs on Clown Triggerfish Stocking/Selection

Triggerfishes for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Re: Trigger question; now sys. 1/14/16
Hi, I just wanted to give you an update. After a few crocodile tears and we'll placed sniffles, my husband said he would buy me a used tank for my Clown fish and starfish :)So I will be able to get a trigger and keep my geriatric fin friends. I am still getting confused as to acceptable tank size for a clown trigger. Some on forums say my 150g will be fine but some
articles I read state a 300g.
<The smaller will do for years.... the larger... may become too frustrating to just have the one Trigger in.
Oh! IF you can start them small; you might try raising a group together.
Bob Fenner>

Possible Clown Trigger addition 10/26/11
Greetings Crew,
<Greetings>
I have a 300 gallon (8 foot) FOWLR. I have some tough cookies in there, 8 inch Sohal (certainly the undisputed alpha), 7 Inch terminal male Lime Green Wrasse, Crosshatch Pair (male 8 inch), and 6 inch Passer Angel, and 5 inch Redtooth Trigger.
<Fun tank>
My wife and I are building a custom home with custom tank in roughly 2 years, that tank will be 10x4x2.5. I have been keeping "aggressive fish" for 10+ years now, but have never kept my favorite fish. Would adding a Clown Trigger to this mix be a horrible idea?
<Yes>
A particular size that would be better suited, was thinking 3-4 inches?
<Little fish will become big alpha fish. Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clntrigart.htm >
I do have a public aquarium just a few miles away that I could donate him to if problems arise.
<Not a good backup plan as public aquariums don't always accept fish that outgrow home aquariums. Perhaps once your custom tank is built, you can house a small clown trigger in your 300 gal.>
Thanks, and regards, Kirk
<Regards, Michelle (Fichecake)>

Clown Trigger and Bursa Trigger in 800 Gal. Stkg. 3/26/10
Hello WWM,
Thank you guys so much for your site! I can not
find much of anything regarding my tank size so I figured I'd be best to write
in. I have a tank 800 Gal, 10' L x 4' W x 3' H.
<Wow! A honker to get in and work on I'm sure>
I currently have these great
fish in this FOWLR setup.
1 Male Blonde Naso Tang
1 Vlamingii Tang
1 Sailfin Tang
1 Orange Shoulder Tang
1 Sohal Tang
1 Yellow Eye Tang
1 Full Grown Maroon Clown ( little beast!)
<Ah yes>
1 Queen Angel
1 Map puffer (grows to 2'2")
900LBS live rock. 125 gallon sump. 2 Aquamedic 5000 skimmers. 100 gallon refugium with miracle mud. Its fun stuff!
All specimens are around 6-8 inches at the present time. I was wondering if you thought that this tank size would be big enough for a Clown Trigger and Black Belly Bursa Trigger to be added.
<I would skip the first... Way too likely to cause/wreak havoc here in time with your other fishes. The last, the Bursa, will likely be fine however>
Or just one of the two. I know the Clown's reports of adults taking out the entire tank at some point. But most don't have tanks bigger than 300 gal. if that.
<Were there time I'd tell you of systems of tens of thousands of gallons (the Mirage in Vegas was one) where we had to "dive in", because fishing didn't work, and physically remove Clown Triggers due to their eating the eyes and more of their tankmates>
In this size tank do you think there is enough room to reduce aggression enough for one or both triggers?
<The less, or a less aggressive one... See WWM: http://wetwebmedia.com/FishInd3.htm
toward the bottom... Re Stocking/Selection by the family, genera>
My whole back panel of the tank is live rock with caves top to bottom glued up the back wall. I know some of this would be based on the triggers individual personalities. Thanks for any input you might have!
Billy
<Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Personable trigger, sel. 1/4/09 Hello Bob, Shea here. With some extra Christmas cash I was able to get a 125 gallon tank up and running! Now my dilemma is what to put in it. I love clown triggerfish and Picasso triggers just the same. I was wondering which of these on your opinion/experience is the more "personable" fish. <The Clown... but it gets too big for this volume> Whichever one I get will be in the 1"-2" range. Would this bad an acceptable size? <Both are great sizes to start... but again, the Clown will become "anomalous" in its behavior in this sized tank... perhaps within two years time... Better to go with one of the genus Rhinecanthus, have some other fast, smart fish tankmates with it... much more interesting for you, other humans> Thank you so much for the help <Welcome Shea. BobF>

Clown Trigger, Yay or Nay?! 5/12/06 I have a question regarding Clown Triggerfish Selection. <Sure-thing.> I ran across one at the LFS yesterday. <Okay.> It is about 2" from end of the nose to the tip of the tail. <A bit small, juvies of this species don't really acclimate or ship well in my experience.> Its stomach is looks pinched and it seems to have general signs of lack of food. <Not un-common.> My questions first should a Clown Triggerfish in this condition be passed on or can they recover quickly? <Depends, is he/she eating now, is the animal alert, "spunky", and aware of the aquarists presence.> Also I couldn't find an article on the website that details the selection of a Clown Trigger fish, could you point me to it or help me out a bit as to what to look for regarding size and appearance when purchasing one? <I'm not sure if we have a article specifically on clown triggers but here is a general article that may help you; http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/triggers/selection.htm ; Adam J.>

Clown Triggers Question for you... I've seen beautiful pics of clown triggers, that have a "leopard like" print near their dorsal area and a distinct line near their "nose" and mouth. The ones I see at the LFS, between 1" and 1.5" only have solid yellow patches near their mouth and back. <Yes... age/development and regional variations> Does their coloring change with maturity or is the region from which they're captured the main differentiator of coloring? I want to make sure the one I get eventually looks as beautiful as the ones I've seen. <Both... the ones from further into the Indian Ocean are "better" for what you're looking for... but don't get imported much into the west... due to relative costs> Some have clear fins and other pics I've seen show a bluish coloring on their rear fin... again... does this come with age? <This part more with "quality", health, happiness (yes I will use this term) of the individual. Bob Fenner>

Christmas Island Clown Trigger Bob, Is there anything special about a Clown Trigger from Christmas Island, other than they are more expensive? <A little easier going than the ones from the Pacific... and sometimes with more, smaller "spots" on lower half of the body. Bob Fenner> Thanks, Kevin p.s. I loved your book!!

Christmas island Christmas island was the host (location) of a number of atmospheric nuclear tests in the late fifties and early sixties. Maybe this trigger glows in the dark! <You're making my day! Bob Fenner> Rick Klages

Triggerfishes for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Please visit our Sponsors