Is adding one more fish asking for trouble?

[zeromus-x]

I've got a 36g bowfront corner tank. Right now I've got about 17lb live rock in it (still working on that... that stuff's expensive!!). It's been up and running for a little over a year. Anyway, I've currently got two Engineer Gobies, a Hawaiian Blue-Spotted Puffer, and a dwarf Lion. The puffer is probably 2.5", the dwarf lion about 2". The only other things I've got are a few hermit crabs, a Sally Lightfoot crab, and a couple brittle stars.
I'll probably be transferring the Engineers to another tank, because they're a PITA and keep collapsing my rock.
Anyway, the LFS has a Bursa Trigger that I absolutely love. I know they're aggressive, but the puffer and lion pretty much are too. He's no more than an inch and a half right now, and they said he grows to about 7.5" when full size. Would this be asking for trouble? I don't know how long it takes him to get bigger; 7.5" in there is pretty big, but if it takes a few years, I'll have a bigger tank by then. I've got a 75g that I can use as a "backup" tank, but I can't have aggressive fish in there, so I'd just have to move the Engineers.
Any suggestions?

 

[sk8america]

triggers are pretty aggressive he will probably leave your lion alone but more than likley will chase your puffer.

 

[jjlittle]

I think your tank is a bit small for a fish that will grow that size I would think that you need to stay with a fish that stays smaller.

 

[diadema]

I agree - a trigger in a 36 gallon's not a good plan.

 

[saltyfishy]

would niger trigger be fine in a 55 gallon? I read that they may eat inverts.

 

[zeromus-x]

Yeah, I figure at 8" it's a bit big for the tank... but if it takes two years to get half that size, then it wouldn't be a problem; I'll have a larger tank (more than likely a 125g) at that point. If it takes three months to get that size on the other hand, then it's a definite "no".

 

[zeromus-x]

Originally Posted by Saltyfishy
would niger trigger be fine in a 55 gallon? I read that they may eat inverts.
Niger Triggers grow to over a foot long, don't they? That might be pushing it.
There's a Niger in a tank at a LFS that's easily over a foot long, and it does tricks -- if you tilt your head, it'll spin all the way around 360 degrees sideways. Doesn't do it every time, but when it's feeling playful, it'll do it constantly with you. Hilarious.

 

[snipe]

I agree I think you have enough fish in there since there mostly meat eating fish there messy.

 

[ophiura]

Also, triggers actually do pose a risk to nipping at the fins of lionfish. I don't recommend one of any size for that size - and especially that footprint - of a tank. At this point you have two "dwarf" aggressive fish and you want to throw in a larger bonafide aggressive and I think it would be a big mistake. :yes: If you haven't already, you may also want to get advice from those in the aggressive fish forum.

 

[zeromus-x]

OK, sounds like it's a bad idea. They're not reef safe either I see, so it's a step in the wrong direction anyway. Are there any reef safe triggers? Or any at all that'd be okay in a tank of this size -- even with only one or two other fish?

 

[snipe]

I really dont think so the smallest I have seen is 75gallons.