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FAQs about Xanthichthys Triggerfishes, Foods/Feeding/Nutrition
Related FAQs:
Xanthichthys Triggers 1, Xanthichthys
Triggers 2, & FAQs on Xanthichthys
Identification, Xanthichthys
Behavior, Xanthichthys
Compatibility, Xanthichthys
Selection, Xanthichthys Systems,
Xanthichthys Disease, Xanthichthys
Reproduction, &
Triggerfishes in General, Triggerfish:
Identification,
Selection,
Selection 2,
Compatibility,
Behavior,
Systems,
Feeding,
Diseases,
Triggerfish Health 2, Reproduction,
Related Articles:
Xanthichthys Triggers,
Triggerfish,
Red Sea Triggerfishes, | 
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Blue-chinned Triggerfish...
not feeding, no data of use 8/16/09
Hi and thanks in advanced for helping me out with my problem. I have a
7" Blue-chinned Triggerfish that I got my local fish store three or
four months ago. He seemed shy at the store but he was also with some
aggressive
fish so I figured he was scared and giving them some space. When I got
him into my 90 gallon he was doing fine and seemed to have no problems
except he
wasn't an aggressive eater and didn't even try to get food sometimes.
<Thus far not atypical behavior>
After he got there I added a small porcupine puffer and a 2 ft Zebra
moray
<... this system is packed psychologically with the life you list>
but he didn't care and was fine. 2 months later I added some powerheads
inside that tank that may have been to strong. After those were put in
was around the time he started hiding in his cave all the time, which is
very deep in
live rock, and refused to eat at all. They were in there for a month
before I thought that they were the reason my trigger was hiding, so I
took them out.
Its been two weeks and he's still refusing to eat or come out of his
cave.
The only reason I know he's not dead is because sometimes I try to feed
him and every day I see that he's still in the cave. When I look into
the cave he's not such and it doesn't look like he's sick at all. His
eyes are clear and alert, his gills are fine, his fins aren't tearing or
bleeding, and he doesn't have any bacterial infection that I can see.
I've researched most of the main diseases and none of them fits his
problems that I know of. When I researched the triggerfish I knew that
they weren't the most outgoing fish but nothing mentioned them hiding
for months. Even my eels don't do that!
<Plural?... eelS?>
Can you help please because the tank feels empty without him. He's in a
90 gallon tank with a 6-7" bird wrasse, a 5" Clark's Clownfish, a 6"
porcupine puffer that hides all day,
<Also strange>
a 1' chainlink moray, and a 2.5' zebra moray eel that does get a little
feisty at feeding time but never fully bites any of the fish. Thanks!
-Alex Pottebaum
<Well... All would be better if you had a larger volume/system... but
the feeding may be a matter of what you're offering; which you don't
list, aspect/s of water quality; which you don't state any test/s for...
Please read on WWM re the needs for each of the species you list... Bob
Fenner>
P.S. Thanks again for helping me out. I had problems earlier with my
eels and WWM was a great help!
Re: Blue-chinned Triggerfish... fdg.; lack thereof... psych.
bullying 8/18/09
This is Alex again. Thanks for the help and sorry for forgetting to list
the information you need. I'm currently feeding the fish frozen Rob's
Fish Food and frozen shrimp, and we do a 1/3 water change every 2-3
weeks except for one time it got to be 6 weeks because we were on
vacation (which was months ago), but we did two water changes that week
to make up for the mistake.
The clownfish and the zebra moray might be part of the problem too
because the clownfish is a bully to the wrasse and might have been
bullying the trigger and the eel
<Ahhh!>
just recently has been very active at feeding time and is starting to
mouth the fish and trying to eat my hand! I read some of the forums and
could it be parasites and if so what can I do to help him out?
<Highly unlikely a/the real issue here is parasitic... IS
psychological...>
We're also thinking of getting a new, larger tank which will probably
help.
<Of a certainty; yes>
Also if it's not to much of a problem could you help me out with the
puffer
because I really don't think he's supposed to hide all the time.
<This fish is hiding for the same reason... likely the boisterous
Clownfish...>
I used to have another just like him and he was everywhere! Thanks so
much and sorry for not providing as much help as I could have! - Alex
<Not a worry Alex. Thank you for sharing. BobF>
Re: Blue-chinned Triggerfish, fdg., beh...
8/24/09
Alex again with more problems now. I got the Blue-chin Triggerfish in a
30 quarantine tank by himself to see if he'll eat in there or not.
<Mmmm, Alex, I wouldn't do this... i.e. keep this, a Xanthichthys
species in such a small volume, isolated. Highly unlikely to become
adjusted, feed there>
When I was trying to get him out of tank he was having mini seizures
where he'd randomly attack anything and run into the wall and start
shaking.
<I can imagine myself doing about the same if the roof came off the
house, some giant creature with a net was chasing me...!>
I turned the lights off and had a blanket on the quarantine tank for two
days and he's still refusing to come out! Any suggestions on how to get
him to be more assertive or ,more importantly, how to get him to eat?
<... remove whomever is bothering this fish in its display/main
system... likely the puffer... Get/use a "training" fish (the best are
some of the more outgoing Damsels... my choice? A member of the genus
Abudefduf... to "show" the Xanthichthys what food is, be more bold
behaviorally... and place some live ghost/glass shrimp in the tank...
and daily, an open shellfish of small size>
Thanks!
P.S. The puffer is out more but still not a whole lot. When the
quarantine tank is free that will become the Clownfishes new home so
that the other fish aren't getting bullied.
<I see. Bob Fenner>
Xanthichthys auromarginatus/freshwater killer... fdg. and turtle incomp.
2/4/09
Hi crew.
It has been a while since i sent an
email. The lionfish survived the ich along with the eels because i was
able to acquire some quinine sulfate from fishpharmacy.com. anyways, I
bought a blue throat trigger on Saturday (2.5" for $30) and he is now in
the quarantine tank. (i cleaned and disinfected the tank from before,
let it sit, then rinsed with hot water, then used fish safe, then filled
it again) anyways, the trigger is starting to swim around the tank and
look at his reflection and such, but will not notice food. i cracked a
clam and a mussel and put it in the tank but he ignored it. i also tried
some freeze dried krill and some frozen silversides. How long before you
think he will start eating.
<Maybe a few days...>
all parameters
are fine, and i assume it is because he has only been in the tank for a
couple days. Should i even feed him now, or wait until the end of the
week or until Wednesday/Thursday for him to get more comfortable?
<I'd try some food daily>
He doesn't show any signs of ich yet, but
the place i go to shares water so im almost expecting it now. (6th ave
and Clement snafransisco aquarium and fish. have you heard/ been to this
place?).
<Mmm, maybe. I get out and about in towns I visit...>
I
also had a question about my 180 gallon freshwater tank. I have a 12"
clown knife, 6.5" black ghost knife, a king tiger Pleco, tiretrack eel,
2 silver dollars (one is 5.5" diameter, the other 3.5") and a soft
shelled turtle (5" diameter).
<Mmm... a tenable mix... turtles are to
put it mildly, a bit "dirty"... and often scratch fishes getting about,
will eat them if they can>
I had 2 parrot cichlids, they were ha[[y
and swam around together, but this morning i come upstairs to see them
both lying dead on the bottom of the tank, half eaten, I am suspecting
the turtle,
<Me too>
because the smaller silver dollar has a bite
mark that is too small for both knifes mouths. I am looking for a home
for the turtle. My question is what would you recommend for my tank, now
that i have lost a the parrots, and the turtle? I'm thinking an Oscar,
and some other fish.
<Mmm, not a good choice... too rambunctious for
the Eel and BGK... Perhaps some Juraparoids, larger Barbs or
Rainbowfishes...>
They will only be in the tank until mid June, then
i am upgrading them to a 250 gallon "hot tub". something is broken with
and it has been sitting in our back yard,
<Neat!>
so my dad said i
could fix it up over the summer and use it if i want. the jets still
work, and so does the light, so all i need is a good filter or two, and
some general supplies to fix/make a new hood and I'm set. How long do
you think the clown knife will last in a 250?
<Indefinitely with
regular maintenance, water changes...>
He seems content in the 180
but i know he is going to grow in the next 5-6 months. Then i am going
to use my 180 for the lionfish, 2 eels and blue throat trigger when they
get bigger. Will that be enough tank for those fish?
<What species
of eels?>
I am thinking i will still have to upgrade to a bigger
tank, and it will be safer/better for the fish.
<Agreed>
Anyways,
thanks for the info,
Will
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>
Re: Xanthichthys auromarginatus/freshwater killer... feeding and
Notopterus comp. – 2/4/09
Thank you for the email,
After
sending it, i realized that blue throat triggers eat the smaller foods
like mysis shrimp and brine shrimp. (are those the same thing?).
<Nope>
Anyways i put some frozen brine shrimp in (enriched, im
getting some Kent Zoë today) and he swam around eating it.
<Ah good>
To answer your question the two eels are echidna nebulosa and
Gymnothorax richardsonii. they are small right now, at about eight
inches, and i vary their diet with frozen silversides, live mussels,
clams, and crabs, and frozen or raw crabs and frozen or raw shrimp.
<Sounds good>
On the freshwater topic, I was just curious if a
protein skimmer would work on a freshwater tank, or if one would need a
skimmer.
<Mmm, not really and no...>
I am not planning to ad one
or anything, i am just curious. Also, when the clown knife gets bigger,
would it be wise to separate him from the king tiger Pleco, and the
black ghost knife?
<Yes>
Do you think the tire track eel and the
silver dollars will be safe in the long run too or is it best to
separate them when he gets to a certain length?
<Could be inhaled
with a big "Whomp" some evening...>
thanks for all the info,
will
<Welcome. BobF>
Refugium skimmer use/ Bluethroat Trigger feeding 12/14/08
Hi again guys and gals
<Hello again Si!>
Just to let you know
after a long debate I finally got myself a refugium built to fit my tank
<Great.> after lots of research and chatting to the people who know, I
have been told with the refugium on the tank that I wouldn't need to use
a skimmer on the tank?
<Hmm, I do not subscribe to this. A skimmer
and refugium are both tools for increasing your water quality, using
both makes it just that much better.>
Oh well there goes the idea of
skimmer as the overflow inlet, but as you previously said Co2 problems
makes sense to. I'm going to let the refugium establish (once it
arrives) and keep a check on the parameters of my tank to see if it
works out (fingers crossed and toes),
got miracle mud at the ready
and a nice bloom of feather Caulerpa and red grape algae to put in.
<These macros will generally compete, with the former likely to win out
in time.>
Oh well see how it all pans out. Just hope the new pair of
Bluethroat triggers appreciate it :) Any ideas on feeding these pair?
<Many!>
Been in only two days, they've come out from hiding but
haven't touched a scrap as yet, the female is definitely the brave one,
is it just persistence and different food trials :(.
<Part of it. Do
read here, much useful information re feeding triggers, Sufflamen
albicaudatus in particular: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/trigfdgfaqs.htm.
They are fairly timid for a trigger, give it time.>
Thanks for the
feedback once again, ever grateful
Si
<Welcome, Scott V.>
Trouble getting Xanthichthys triggers to feed - 09/02/08
Hi
<Hello Glen.>
I received three blue throat triggers and one male
cross hatched trigger collected and shipped directly from Hawaii. One
male and one female blue throat are in quarantine together in a 55
gallon. The third also a male is in a 55 gallon quarantine tank, and the
crosshatched is in a 75 gallon quarantine along with a 30 inch Zebra
moray received with the triggers. I hope to keep the pair together in a
220 FOWLR, the single in a 180 reef, and the crosshatch in a 180 FOWLR.
<Tank sizes should work. Larger tanks with groups of these triggers
would be even better.>
A week later and I cannot get any of the
triggers to do more than inspect food spit it out and than return to
blowing around the sand bed. The eel also shows no interest. I know that
generally the larger zebra eels are more problematic to induce to feed.
I never however, had problems getting triggers to eat before.
Except
for the eel the others are busy swimming and exploring but not eating.
The crosshatch is about 10 inches, the others are a bit smaller and the
female is the smallest at about 6 inches.
I actually expected the
triggers to be smaller, but this is what I have. So far I have tried,
prawn, clam, squid, scallops, chopped shrimp, and various dry foods. Any
suggestions, I am not so comfortable with them going on two weeks since
their last meal (assuming they ate sometime before being shipped).
<You tried rather large food items, but these two species Xanthichthys
mento and Xanthichthys auromarginatus mostly feed on larger plankton
organisms transported by the current and gravity down the reef slopes in
nature. Krill, Mysis, large Artemia, feeder shrimps and similar small
crustaceans between a quarter of an inch to one inch would be more
adequate. Sometimes they even eat small jellyfish (in nature).
Personally, I’d start with live food (e.g. ghost shrimp, live Mysis) and
when a type is accepted, I’d use the same type of food frozen mixed with
the live food and decrease the live portion with time. I’d feed these
species at least two times a day. If they have settled in the future,
they might accept the food items you tried earlier, which would be good
in order to reach a more varied diet. Freshly caught Crosshatch triggers
and their cousins sadly often waste away, because they refuse to feed in
captivity, once too much of their muscle tissue is gone, it usually is
too late. So, I wish you good luck with them. For the Zebra moray I’d
try a live crab or crayfish if available. But this animal is much less
endangered in terms of starving. Also check the water quality. Good
water quality generally improves the feeding response. In addition check
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/triggers/xanthichthys/faqs.htm
>
Thank you in advance and thank you also for all your great work.
Glen.
<Good luck. Marco.>
Sargassum Trigger Fish - 07/18/2006
Hi guys/girls
<<Hi.>>
Quick question for you if I may :)
<<Go for it.>>
I have a Sargassum Trigger Fish.
<<Cool.>>
I have had him
for a few months now. Slowly over this time he has become
progressively skinnier. Not really skinny, he eats a huge amount,
but just does not put on weight. I am just thinking he may have
worms.
<<An internal parasite of some kind is likely.>>
What
would be the best thing to worm him with?
<<I use Levamisole, a
commonly available pig de-wormer.>>
We don't have a huge range
of meds over here either, can you just use cat wormer?
<<I’m not
familiar with cat meds.>>
How much? How do you get it into them?
Soak some freeze dried krill in a solution of the Levamisole and
tank water. Do this for a few days.>>
Thought of mixing with
food, but he tends to only eat whole things like mussel, white bait
etc.
<<See above.>>
Any ideas??
There is a photo of him
(attached) when I first got him.
Thanks again
Tim
<<Glad
to help. Lisa.>> |
|
Questionable Aquarium Service...Trying To Do What's Needed - 09/22/06
Dear Wet Web Crew,
<<Hello>>
My employer has a beautiful
200-gallon salt-water tank, and has a tank service that comes in and
cares for this tank.
<<Ok>>
I have a serious lack of confidence
in this company because I did a little research on your site and they
have made many really bad mistakes.
<<Some do yes, but doesn't mean
this one is "bad". Have you been able to talk to other/previous
customers of this company? Have they done anything to make you feel
uncomfortable with their level of service?>>
First, they got the
chemicals wrong in the tank, which killed most of the fish.
<<Ahh...I see...sounds like you may have good reason for your
concerns...>>
Then, when they replaced the fish, they brought us 5
crabs, a blue-throat Triggerfish, 3 assorted angelfish
<<Mmm...>>
(in separate bags. NOT introduced at the same time), and a pair of
ocellaris (among others). Of course, the Trigger ate the crabs
immediately. I am an administrative assistant with little/no knowledge
of fish, and have been tasked with taking care of their diet, and making
sure they get what they need.
<<Sounds like you need to start doing
some reading/researching my friend. Google searches on our site and the
NET re the species names will yield much information>>
So I need a
little advice from professionals that actually care about the
fish. After the initial eating of the crabs, and the disappearance of
one of the smaller Angelfish (which after reading on your site I found
out why <<...?>>), the blue-throat trigger has started exhibiting odd
behavior. He lies down at the bottom of the tank on his right side, and
just lays very still for long periods on time.
<<Maybe not all that
"odd" after all. Is there live rock in this tank? (should be if there
isn't)...Does this tank have any type of decor/rock work? These
triggers will very often "rest" in a hole or crevice in the reef during
the day, and definitely at night. If the tank is not suitably
aquascaped the trigger may be merely "resting" on the bottom of the
tank>>
He is still eating well (They get frozen shrimp, the cubed
kind once a day, and Formula 2 the blue-green algae variety flakes twice
daily).
<<Do look in to obtaining some New Life Spectrum Marine
pellets and a frozen "Angel" food formulated specifically for their
care. Feed these AND the frozen shrimp, with the flakes, twice daily>>
His color has faded a bit, but he doesn't have any spot or slime on him,
and he hasn't rearranged the tank in a while- he used to do that all the
time. I read one of your entries about one having similar behavior in a
20 gallon tank, and you said the tank was too small but I don't think
that is the case here- the tank is
200 gallons.
<<Agreed...but
that doesn't mean there aren't more/other environmental factors at play
here...such as water chemistry or the "design" of the tank itself>>
Could he be malnourished or ill?
<<Maybe...the trigger needs several
small feedings of meaty foods daily. The Spectrum pelleted food and the
frozen shrimp fed at least twice a day will help. For even better
nourishment of ALL the fish, consider getting/soaking the food in Selcon
and/or Vita-Chem a couple times a week>>
And is there some product
or variety of food I should tell my boss to get for him?
<<Ah
yes!...as explained>>
Cordially,
Jane
<<I want to help Jane,
do write back if you need further clarification on anything...and try to
give me as much information about the system as you can
(filtration/maintenance/aquascaping (or lack of), etc.). Regards, Eric
Russell>>
Re: Questionable Aquarium Service...Trying To Do
What's Needed – 10/11/06
Dear Eric,
<<Hello Jane>>
I
just wanted to thank you for your excellent advice.
<<Was my
pleasure to provide>>
It has been about two weeks since you emailed
me with the suggestions. We invested in New Life Spectrum Marine
Pellets, and we also purchased a lot more coral decorations to go on the
live rock.
<<This pelleted food is an excellent staple for your
fish>>
We hired a company to change out the coral and clean the
tank/maintain the filtration system every two weeks.
<<Excellent...but I do hope you/someone “monitors’ the tank on a daily
basis>>
They have been instructed to bring in lots of smaller shells
and other such toys for the occupants.
<<Mmm...do be careful not to
create detritus traps>>
Our Bluethroat Triggerfish has perked up
considerably; I think he may have been suffering from boredom.
<<Indeed...these are intelligent and personable fish...and somewhat
“shy” at times. It’s never good to place fish in a “plain glass box”
devoid of proper structure/hiding places...is very stressful>>
All
the fish seem to be a little brighter and a lot more active.
<<Good
signs>>
Thanks again for your excellent advice and support.
<<I’m glad it proved useful...thank you for the follow-up>>
Peace
and Blessings,
Jane
<<Regards, EricR>> |
Finicky Sargassum Trigger – 09/23/06
Hello from Alabama,
<<Greetings from South Carolina>>
Thank you for the wonderful
site and all of the great information, my tank has improved greatly
after implementing many of your ideas over the past year.
<<Is a
collective effort...you're quite welcome>>
I do have a question
that I couldn't find much info on though. I purchased a 5"
Sargassum Trigger one week ago, I had a problem with my quarantine
and after one day I had to put it into the main tank ( a 265
FOWLR). The fish looks great and is very active, which surprised me
because I have a Blue Throat Trigger that hid for the first several
days, but now swims constantly. I assumed this fish would do the
same.
<<Indicative of the difference in species/personality>>
Even though it is active it hasn't eaten anything this whole week.
<<Troubling...even more so if this fish has not eaten since
capture. Did you see the fish eat at the LFS before purchase?>>
I have tried pellets, flakes, frozen shrimp, frozen Mysis, and even
live guppies and ghost shrimp.
<<Hmm...is a planktonic
feeder...though according to FishBase they will also dine on crabs
and urchins>>
It doesn't show any interest in food at all.
<<Not good>>
Do you have any ideas of what else I could try and
do you know how long he can go without eating. Any help will be
appreciated.
<<The fish can go a surprisingly long time without
feeding, but not eating for more than a week becomes worrisome. If
the problem were internal parasites I would expect the fish to have
expired by now...the fact that it is still alive leaves "some" hope
that this is a problem of acclimation/finding the right stimulus to
get the fish to feed. Perhaps you could try some fresh
mussels/clams/oysters on the half-shell from your local grocery
store. I have had success in the past getting finicky feeders to eat
by offering (thawed) frozen glass worms (mosquito larvae). Try
soaking these in Selcon for a bit more enticement/nutritive
value. Another food you should try is Sweetwater Plankton. This
small soft bodied food (Daphnia actually) is a great "plankton"
food. Both of these will likely be appreciated by the Blue Throat
as well>>
Thank you,
Jeremy
<<Good luck. EricR>>
Re: Finicky Sargassum Trigger (Refugium Plumbing) – 09/28/06
First of all let me say thank you for your help with my triggerfish,
the night I received your response he began eating the Mysis shrimp.
<<Ah, super!>>
He now will eat anything, but I am still trying
to find the zooplankton since that is what they are more accustomed
to.
<<The Mysis are a good “staple”, but varying the diet is
always better. Both the Sweetwater Plankton (saltwater formula) and
the New Life Spectrum pellets should be easy to find at many of the
on-line vendors>>
I now have another question.
>>Okay>>
I have been struggling keeping my nitrates below 20 ppm and I would
like to be able to culture some copepods and things so I have
decided to add a refugium after reading all the good reviews on
them.
<<Indeed...a very worthwhile addition to any system>>
I have a 265 gallon tank with a sump and an AquaC EV-180, and about
150 lbs of live rock. I have a 40 gallon Oceanic Trickle filter I
am not using that I wanted to try and convert to a Refugium. I
have attached a drawing of what I have in mind.
<<I see it>>
<Graphic not pasted here for space/dnld considerations... see
Refugium Designs... RMF>
My problem is that I am very restrained
by the size of the stand I have and the space that I have.
<<A
very common tale>>
Most people seem to have the space/height to
drain from the tank to the 'fuge and then down to a sump. I will
have to have my sump and 'fuge on the same level with only about 2"
height difference in the two.
<<Could be fine...do ensure there
is enough “empty volume” left to handle the transient water volume
when the pumps/power go off>>
My plan is to have water flow from
the tank to the sump and the 'fuge and then the 'fuge will overflow
into the sump and be pumped back to the tank.
<<That’s how I do
mine (375g display, 75g sump, 55g refugium)>>
From experimenting
in my garage I think I can only put about 150 gph through the 'fuge
this way to keep it from overflowing (of course I could have
powerheads in the 'fuge for better circulation in there).
<<Flow-rate is determined by the size/number of throughputs...but
150 gph through this refugium should do fine>>
I thought of
adding another overflow and pump, but besides the added cost, I was
afraid that would be too many variables (as far as keeping the
system from overflowing), but maybe I am wrong.
<<All comes down
to not spilling more water in to the refugium than you can spill out
of it in the same amount of time.
I guess my questions are do
you think the 150 gph would be enough for my tank to see a real
benefit, and looking at the picture can you suggest a better way to
get water through the fuge and to the sump.
<<An emphatic “yes!”
to the first...and as for the second, I suggest you add a
gate-valves to the pump output and to the refugium input to allow
for flow adjustments and be able to “shut-off” the refugium for
maintenance. And if these are “hard” connections, you may also want
to consider installing unions>>
Sorry for the length of the
email, and thank you in advance for all of your help.
Jeremy
<<No worries Jeremy, am happy to help. Regards, EricR>> |
Blue-Throat Trigger Not Eating – 05/03/07
Hi folks,
<Hello.>
Great site, recommend it to whoever will listen.
<Awesome.>
I have a question about a blue-throat trigger.
<...One of my favorites...>
This is my second attempt at one of
these fish and it is getting frustrating.
<Well lets see if I
can help you out.>
For the record I have been keeping saltwater
fish for over 15 years and this is my first attempt at a
triggerfish. I have a 5 year old majestic angel, a 7 year old
swallowtail angel and a 7 year old Naso tang along with a few little
guys to keep things hopping presently in a 90 gallon reef,
<A
bit on the crowded side but okay...>
all are happy and fat with
no aggression but now I figured I could try something new. The
first trigger died due to a
bacterial infection that I couldn't
get to in time but this second one is not visibly sick but still
won't eat.
<Blue throats tend to be a little more
flighty/finicky...in general exhibit behavior atypical of how would
expect a tiger to act. How long has it been?>
He is about 3"
long and in a 30 gallon quarantine tank with a few chunks of live
rock, a skimmer, power head
for movement and an AquaClear 500
hang-on filter. There are a couple of other fish in there, just to
keep it cycled. I have checked all the normal water parameters, all
is fine. I have tried PE mysis, smaller mysis, flake, bloodworms,
shaved shrimp, squid and clam - won't touch anything.
<Wow, you
have pulled out all the stops. I have a few more suggestions though;
market scallops or mussels soaked in a nutritional supplement like
Selcon.>
Is the quarantine tank too small ?
<No seems
adequate...for a quarantine.>
The quarantine tank has had a
small Pseudochromis and a coral beauty in it for a couple of years
until recently when I nicely took a marine Betta because he had
lateral line and Lymphocystis.
<Mmmm...with all these animals,
yes quarantine tank is too small, quarantine tank should be just
that....quarantine.>
He has since been cured ( yes the lateral
line too ) but I don't really have any place to move him so he is in
the quarantine too. Is he intimidating the trigger ?
<Perhaps, the specimen I have is extremely flighty; easily scarred.>
There seems to be no aggression between the two, in fact they use
the same cave at night. Any ideas would be great. I would hate to
lose the trigger because of a screw up on my part. I intended to
move him into my 90 gallon reef after his quarantine period, which
has been about 3 weeks. But I don't want to do that if he is not
eating because he will never get food in there with my other fish.
<Rob, how long has it been since the fish has not eaten?
Thanks
for your time,
<Anytime...I look forward to your reply.>
Rob
in Syracuse, NY
<Adam J in California.> Re: Blue-throat
trigger STILL not eating – 05/03/07
Hey Adam,
<Welcome back Rob.>
Thanks for the reply.
<No problem.>
I have not seen this trigger eat in 3 weeks.
<Mmm...that is a
little lengthy.>
He doesn't seem to be losing a lot of weight
but I can't figure out what he is eating.
<This tank has other
animals, how well established is it? Perhaps micro-crustaceans.>
I have soaked all of the food offerings in Selcon. ( been using that
stuff for years )
<Cool.>
I ended up putting the trigger
into my 90 gallon reef last night. He hid for around a half an hour
and then started exploring the tank.
<A good sign,
mine is till rather reclusive almost a year later.>
My majestic
wasn't too happy but he got over it quickly. I added some mysis and
blood worms hoping that he might get the feeding idea from the
feeding frenzy that occurs every time I put anything edible into
that tank. Nothing, in fact he hid. He does seem to be more active
in the larger tank but I want him to eat soon.
<I
understand, I would also try to offer food just after the lights go
off...in his direction with a turkey baster if you can get hold of
one.>
I am assuming that he will figure it out any day now, he
has got to be hungry and with the other fish active and feeding, he
has got to get it. I have had other fish not eat in the past, but
they didn't live this long or I figured out what they wanted. I do
not want to lose this fish, he is way too cool looking. Do you think
I should just wait it out or should I take him back to the LFS?
<Well I would ask the LFS what they were feeding him.>
To be
honest I don't know how much effort the LFS would put out for a fish
that won't eat.
<Not much.>
Do you think I need to increase
filtration?
I have a red sea skimmer, Fluval 404, a large
emperor hang-on, UV sterilizer ( 15w ),
3 powerheads and about
95 lbs. of live rock and an inch of live sand.
<Well I'm not a
fan of canister filters on marine tanks, I prefer macro-algae
refugiums.>
So far I haven't had any big problems at all, at
least for the last 3 years.
Any advice would be appreciated.
<A few more feeding suggestions, if an LFS has live brine or live
mysids.. give them a try. I know that live brine and live foods
aren't the best thing. and certainly not a long term option but it's
better than nothing. Also try some meats that are more poignant to
the sense of smell, mackerel, squid, along those lines.>
Thank
you,
<Welcome.>
Rob in Syracuse, NY
<Adam still in
SoCal.> |
Sargassum Trigger...Adapting to Captive Life 3-30-08
Hi Crew,
<<Key Kirk.>>
I have a Sargassum Trigger set to arrive on Wednesday
from an online company.
<<Exciting.>>
While I have kept several
different Triggers successfully (Niger, Huma, Rectangle, even the
dreaded Undy) in the past, I am a little nervous about my new addition.
He will be the most expensive fish I have ever purchased, and the only
Trigger I have kept that is considered somewhat challenging to keep in
captivity. I often frequent the various message boards to learn, yet
rarely see any info on this fish being kept.
<<Yes, they are
definitely a more elusive species to collect than the ones you mentioned
above. Also you have to take into consideration that Xanthichthys are
pelagic triggers relying heavily on zooplankton; thus they do not adapt
as easily to captive life. I would quarantine for a minimum of a month
and avoid a large variety of foods, feeding relatively small amounts
multiple times daily. Try mysis, mysids, krill, clams, scallop meant and
finely chopped meats of a marine origin.>>
Tank is a fairly new 240
8x2x2, 160 lbs LR, 160lbs LS, custom sump with refugium, Aqua C EV 240,
and Emperor Aquatics 40 watt UV, his new friends will be a juvi Sunset
Wrasse, baby Niger, and Flame Angel.
<<Watch for aggression between
this animal and the existing niger.>>
Just hoping for a little advice
as to why this fish sometimes doesn't flourish in captivity.
<<See
here;
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/triggers/xanthichthys/index.htm
along with the linked FAQ’s and my above listed notes.>>
Thanks and
best regards,
<<Good luck to you and your trigger.>>
Kirk
<<Adam_J.>>
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