fish fight!

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cbj84b

Guest
I bought a niger trigger and when I place him in my tank my white spotted grouper was laying it on him. so I had to put the new fish in a smaller tank that I had laying around. I dont know what to do. I'm guessing I have to wait until the trigger fish grows some but this grouper is getting bigger every day that goes by.
Anyways just needed to vent my frustration out thanks for reading everyone
 
ajroc31

ajroc31

Member
How much bigger is it? Perhaps you could take the grouper out for few days, move some rocks around. Sometimes new fish are picked on for few days, until the older fish gets used to it. My Royal Gramma terrorized my regal tang, now they are the best of buddies as long as the tang stays away from Grammas cave.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
These are both aggressive fish and need to establish a pecking order---or they simply may not tolerate each other. How big is the tank? The bigger the tank, the better your chances. Also, groupers are very fast growers, triggers are not. While most "gulpers", like groupers, usually don't try to swallow a trigger (because of the trigger fin); it does happen.
 
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cbj84b

Guest
Here are the stats on the fish the grouper is about 4 1/2" and the trigger is I dont know like 2 1/2 maybe 3" and they are in a small tank because I got the grouper when he was tiny and figured I had some time before it would need a bigger tank... guess that went out the door...
I'm getting a 75 gallon this weekend but it might take me a few days to get it up and running because I need to clean it and make sure everything is working properly.
 
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cbj84b

Guest
I forgot to mention if you can see on my user pic I have a green spotted puffer that gets along fine with the grouper... sometimes the grouper will snap at it (GSP) but very rarely...
 
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cbj84b

Guest
Originally Posted by ajroc31
http:///forum/post/3263883
How much bigger is it? Perhaps you could take the grouper out for few days, move some rocks around. Sometimes new fish are picked on for few days, until the older fish gets used to it. My Royal Gramma terrorized my regal tang, now they are the best of buddies as long as the tang stays away from Grammas cave.
Thanks ajroc31,
Once I set up the bigger tank I will place the trigger in first then the other two fish to see how that goes. I also need to at much more caves to give the little guy some more hiding places... it was bad, they werent little peck it was a full on attack
 
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cbj84b

Guest
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/3263886
These are both aggressive fish and need to establish a pecking order---or they simply may not tolerate each other. How big is the tank? The bigger the tank, the better your chances. Also, groupers are very fast growers, triggers are not. While most "gulpers", like groupers, usually don't try to swallow a trigger (because of the trigger fin); it does happen.
I hope he doesnt swallow the little trigger... for now it wont happen but in a few months who knows :s
 
noah's nemo

noah's nemo

Member

Originally Posted by cbj84b
http:///forum/post/3263911
Here are the stats on the fish the grouper is about 4 1/2" and the trigger is I dont know like 2 1/2 maybe 3" and they are in a small tank because I got the grouper when he was tiny and figured I had some time before it would need a bigger tank... guess that went out the door...
I'm getting a 75 gallon this weekend but it might take me a few days to get it up and running because I need to clean it and make sure everything is working properly.
So what are they in now?A 75 is still on the small side for these fish to try and coexist
 
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cbj84b

Guest
the small trigger is in a 10 gallon I had laying around and the grouper is in a 29 gal biocube...
I know 75 is on the small side but that is the best I can do for now. The safety of my fish is my number one concern so I will place the grouper in the 75 and the trigger in the biocube by himself.
 
kylev

kylev

Member
Be prepared your going to get some heat from your stocking because when you say the safety of your fish is your number one concern you are not showing it by your amount of research and stocking methods, but good luck and try to get a large tank asap
 
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cbj84b

Guest
Originally Posted by Kylev
http:///forum/post/3265262
Be prepared your going to get some heat from your stocking because when you say the safety of your fish is your number one concern you are not showing it by your amount of research and stocking methods, but good luck and try to get a large tank asap
thanks for the warning Kylev, I figured someone would throw some "heat" I have done research and almost everywhere I check 70 or 75 is the min for the white spotted grouper.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Maybe minimum for a small one. Wait until it grows 16-20" and it can't turn around, you can't get rid of it, and the fish store absolutely doesn't want a whole tank dedicated to the fish they can't sell. I can't give you any advice on your fish with your current tank set ups. Good luck
 
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cbj84b

Guest
Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/3265571
Maybe minimum for a small one. Wait until it grows 16-20" and it can't turn around, you can't get rid of it, and the fish store absolutely doesn't want a whole tank dedicated to the fish they can't sell. I can't give you any advice on your fish with your current tank set ups. Good luck
when that day comes I will provide it with a better home. I have no intentions of selling it or taking it back a FS. I got into this hobby because I enjoy fish, and this type of fish I enjoy the most so ultimately I will do whatever it takes to keep him happy. (not directy at jackri but to all that read this) instead of giving negative comments about too small do more research work on stocking methods and not helping, point me in the right direction.
I could do this on my own but I joined this forum to talk to the people that have/are doing this right now. also I enjoy talking to other aquarist that want to share knowlegdable info... not just cant do this or cant do that
Thanks
 
kylev

kylev

Member
IMO to point you in the right direction I would consider returning the grouper before its gets to large and to stock the tank with fish that can be better suited in a 75 gallon tank. Not trying to be mean or rude I just think you will find a lot more success because this hobby can become very expensive and discouraging from the failures of overstocking. Minimum tank sizes and fish store advice can be very skewed and miss leading at times. Otherwise you could find yourself always having to upgrade to accommodate a fish rather than waiting until you have the adequate tank to support it.
Good luck
 
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cbj84b

Guest
Thanks for the advice Kylev.
what would you consider to be an adequate tank for a white spotted grouper?
 
kylev

kylev

Member
I do not have much experience with groupers but I would imagine one could be pretty comfortable in a tank around 100 gallons, but hopefully someone with grouper experience will come along and chim in. Its also going to depend on what else you would like to house with it.
 
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cbj84b

Guest
Very true... thanks I will keep that in mind for my next tank. I might have to build one
well anyone with grouper experience please chip in :)
 
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cbj84b

Guest
Thanks all for you input... for now I will keep my fish in a 75 gal that I picked up for a good price. and will look into getting a larger tank in the future. for now the fish are doing great. I realized that I should have done more research on the niger trigger. In fact I should not have purchased it so I will try to sell or take it to my LFS for some credit... fingers crossed
I will stay with the grouper because this species of fish along with moray eels was the main reason I got into this hobby.
Once again thank you all,
Cheers
 
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cbj84b

Guest
just a quick update on the fish.
all three of my fish are doing great!
the trigger fish is swimming out in the open and not hiding all day.
the green spotted puffer is doing really good.
and finally the white spotted grouper is getting huge and doing awesome as well.
now instead of going full out and attacking the grouper just lets the others know to stay out of its cave.
 
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