Just lost a Trigger

[cscheltville]

Hi, have never posted here but I need a second opinion. I lost a Bursa Trigger today. I guessing it was due to a tail bite from my porc puffer several weeks ago. I thought Bursa was on the mend, because he seemed to be acting normal, except for not much of a tail Appetite good.
But what concerns me, is that I was told my porc puffer could ravage the rest of my inhabitants. Is this normal for a porc?
I also have a clown trigger, soapfish grouper, and cream angel.
55 gal tank
Thanks,
Cindy in Fla.

 

[rslinger]

Wow in a 55 gallon tank heck yeah they will all kill each other. Porc puffers can grow to about 2 feet best suited to at least a 150 if not bigger really. No joke you have to take a real look at your stock list. that sounds like it should be in a 300 gallon tank. Not trying to be rude btw. some years ago when i started this hobby a pet store sold me a empire angle, sweet lips and a clown fish all in one day to put in my thirty gallon tank that had only been set up for 2 days. research everything you buy. You will save your self a lot of money in the long run...CLOWN TRIGGERMinimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Aggressive
Reef Compatible: No
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 1' 8"
Color Form: Black, Blue, Green, Orange, White, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Indonesia, Sumatra
Family: Balistidae
Cream Angel
Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Aggressive
Reef Compatible: With Caution
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 8"
Color Form: Black, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Sri Lanka
Family: Pomacanthidae
Porc puffer
Minimum Tank Size: 90 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: No
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 1'
Color Form: Black, Tan, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Caribbean
Family: Diodontidae
And IREALLYFeel That even those are a little small on the tank Req

 

[flower]

Sorry for the loss.
WELCOME to the site.
Lots of folks here to help

 

[rcreations]

Small tank makes agressive fish even more agressive as they don't like to feel crowded. But I've heard of porc puffers do this many times before, even in large tanks they can get really agressive as they get bigger.

 

[kjr_trig]

Yeah, sorry to pile on with this being your first post, but your tank really is much too small for the fish you have particularly the Puffer, and as RCreations said, small tank = more aggressive fish.
I would consider finding a new home for the Puffer.
Welcome to the site.

 

[cscheltville]

Thanks to all who replied! Appreciate the info.
A little back ground, the tank was given to me from the hotel where I work. They didn't want it, and asked me if I wanted it. So...
The P-puffer is actually the second one for this tank. The first died, and that is when I got the one I now have. About 15 months ago. I have the tank service by a local fish shop. He has been in the business for 15 years, and I trust him to tell me what will work in the tank. He is the one who told me the puffer should be swapped out. He will give me another smaller puffer. Don't know if I want another porc knowing all of this. Thinking of a dog face.
The cream angel has been in the tank for 3 1/2 years. He has survived another puffer, another soapfish grouper, (second one of those too.)And this trigger I had. Still don't know why the pp went after my Bursa. I miss 'em. He was entertaining. Now the clown trigger has gotten more entertaining.
Thanks all!
Cindy in Fla

 

[smartorl]

Well, he makes his money on selling you fish..........you have to keep that in mind.
I agree totally, smaller tank, less territory, larger potential for aggression.

 

[rcreations]

You have to realize that fish stores and their employees want to sell you fish. The more of your fish that die, the more fish they can sell you and the more money they make. If everyone kept their fish in the proper size tank, proper tank mates and conditions, these fish could live for 20 years and the pet store would go out of business. Best to do your own research.

 

[concertperks]

completely agree with all of you!
also to the original poster how much LR do you have in your 55 ? that takes away from tank space and causes these agressive fish to become more teretorial and much more aggresive as they fight for the best spots and caves,its great to have LR when having the right amount to make caves so fish can feel very stress free. but it will make your tank smaller.i have a 240 gal tank and 4 small fish and 6 adult fish, none exceeding 7.5 inches.
pair of adult ocalleris clowns
LMB -very small
scooter blenny -very small
GHT 7.5 inches
Niger Triggerfish 5.5 inches
Blue tang 7 inches
Purple Tang 5 inches
foxface 6 inches.
emperor angelfish 5 inches
I also use excellent filteration adequate for a 500 gal tank and an amazing protein skimmer good enough for a 500 gallon tank and I maintain the tank very well. I have 160 lb's of premium Fiji LR.

 

[cscheltville]

Wow, nice size tank!
LR?? Live Rock?? No live rock. Don't wanna mess with that. I just have some ornaments in the tank. Large ornaments of course, but nothing exotic.
Thanks all!
Cindy

 

[rslinger]

Really not sure what to tell you but your heading down the wrong path. Do some reading, find some info. Your heading towards expense and heart brake.

 

[petjunkie]

Live rock doesn't take any "messing" it's natural filtration and provides a food source plus hiding places. A toby puffer would be the only kind suitable for a 50 gallon tank and any puffer has the chance of nipping and bothering any fish, especially the larger ones. The rest of your fish list really needs to find a larger home, clown triggers can be monsters as they grow and a smaller tank will only make it worse, if any of these fish were doing well they would have long outgrown the tank. There's really no trigger, large angel or grouper that will fit long term in that tank. You came to get a 2nd opinion, no one here wants to make money off you, we want to see you keep healthy fish properly. Better fish would be the small puffer, dwarf angel, hawfish, large clownfish, sixline wrasse, etc.