Hawaiian Black trigger

[ljroman85]

Ok so I just bought one of these guys. I've wanted one for a LONG time so I do a search on the boards and I have found that some people are getting the indian ocean trigger Melichthys Indicus, and NOT the hawaiian black trigger Melichthys Niger. One of the big reasons that I bought this fish is because I heard that it changes colors a lot. Does the Indian Trigger change colors as much as the Hawaiian Black? Am I getting a Hawaiian Black trigger or Indian Trigger? To me they look pretty much the same. I have read several post, but none seems to give a real answer. I guess what I'm really asking is IF I do end up with the Indian Trigger, what difference is their between the two? Thanks for the help P.S. I posted this in the Aggressive Fish forum I figured that i might get more people to help me here....i think...thanks again though

 

[hatessushi]

There is a lot of discrepancy between whether it's a Hawaiian or Indian trigger. I have one and based on my research with others on this board and research on my own I came to the conclusion that they are so similar that you could call it either Hawaiian or Indian. I believe they are the same fish from different oceans. They don't really change colors per say like foing from yellowto blue but rather they change shades. Basically different shades of yellow, brown, with some white stripes, and blue lining on black fins. The Hawaiian version (melichthys niger) will grow to about 10 to 12 inches whereas the Indian (melichthys indicus) will grow to about 8 inches or just a bit bigger. The Indian version is fairly rare. I got mine form this site and notice a while back that they had another. The one on this site is stated as a Hawaiian but is actually the Indian. I sent them an email but they never changed it or responded. I am glad I got the Indian one though because of the size they can get to. Here is a picture of mine. The first pic is when I first got him into QT the second in the DT. They are a wonderfull fish and very smart. I taught mine to eat from my hand and am teaching him to roll over on his belly to be rubbed. That is proving to take a while. they have way to much personality for a fish.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by HatesSushi
There is a lot of discrepancy between whether it's a Hawaiian or Indian trigger. I have one and based on my research with others on this board and research on my own I came to the conclusion that they are so similar that you could call it either Hawaiian or Indian. I believe they are the same fish from different oceans. They don't really change colors per say like foing from yellowto blue but rather they change shades. Basically different shades of yellow, brown, with some white stripes, and blue lining on black fins. The Hawaiian version (melichthys niger) will grow to about 10 to 12 inches whereas the Indian (melichthys indicus) will grow to about 8 inches or just a bit bigger. The Indian version is fairly rare. I got mine form this site and notice a while back that they had another. The one on this site is stated as a Hawaiian but is actually the Indian. I sent them an email but they never changed it or responded. I am glad I got the Indian one though because of the size they can get to. Here is a picture of mine. The first pic is when I first got him into QT the second in the DT. They are a wonderfull fish and very smart. I taught mine to eat from my hand and am teaching him to roll over on his belly to be rubbed. That is proving to take a while. they have way to much personality for a fish.
nice pics
man i want one of those triggers soo bad but any one would take all my fish down

they get large as well as hatesushi stated,
so no reply from swf huh?

 

[hatessushi]

Never got a reply. this fish is not aggressive so far. Actually my maroon clown is the aggressive one. He doesn't even bite hard on my finger. He doesn't eat any corals, crabs, snails only what I feed him. He does move his small rocks around that I give him.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by HatesSushi
Never got a reply. this fish is not aggressive so far. actually my maroon clown is the aggressive one. He doesn't even bite hard on my finger.
do you think tht is the least aggressive trigger?
would he go after little fish
i have seen new peole to the hobby try to have a trigger and a pair of clowns till they find out it will be a afternoon snack

 

[hatessushi]

My clown is 1.5 inches and the trigger is nearly 5 inches and the clown chases him. I think he likes it though but they don't fight.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by HatesSushi
My clown is 1.5 inches and the trigger is nearly 5 inches and the clown chases him. I think he likes it though but they don't fight.
your clown is a good size you dont usually find them over an inch.. well not here

 

[hatessushi]

The clown was the first one I put in the tank last June. He may be a little less then that but I know the trigger could eat him if he wanted to, since he is that small. Here is a more recent pic.

 

[ocellaris_keeper]

Triggers like space and love to cruise around - if you keep it fed and it has a great place to swim you should be ok

 

[ljroman85]

Yeah one of the reasons that finally pushed me to get this guy was your posts.....I am still waiting for the guy so when i get him in I'll post pics....I placed the order on Sunday and it still says pending....im hoping i get him soon im so excited to get him....cant wait...by the way how many different shades have you seen yours turn? does it change a lot?

 

[hatessushi]

Mine goes from darker then in the first picture to lighter then the 3rd picture. His shade changes from in the morning to late in the day and depends on his mood. His trigger pops up during exciting situations like eating. He is such a character. His name is Rico Suave.
Did you order yours from this site? Make sure to acclimate him slowly and get it in a QT for a few weeks. I used a 10 gallon QT and did water changes of about 1 to 2 gallons per day. My QT was kinda small but I was able to monitor it throughout the day. Triggers can be big eaters. I feed him homemade food as well as garlic and vitamins. He also gets some nori daily with the other fish. I used Beth's recipe for fish food she has posted at the top of the Disease and Treatment forum.
Rico is really healthy and is getting fat. I need to cut down on his feedings which is hard to do because he is so fun to watch and always eats.

 

[ljroman85]

yeah I did order it from this site, it so hard to wait man i want to have him already.....but i guess i need to wait

but what are you gonna do i guess...i think i might have got the last one too because now when i look for him they dont have'em available anymore

but im still pending for when he gets here for sure i'll try and get some pics

 

[hatessushi]

I look forward to seeing the pics