niger trigger growing?....

[jamiefisher]

so i was just looking at the fish avaliable and it listed the max length on a niger trigger at 12-16 inches. mine is maybe 3 and not getting any bigger. ive had him for about 6 months in my 55 gallon tank. could he be a slow grower?

 

[marco]

I read that the minimum for a trigger is 75 gallons and it should be fed three times a day. How often do you feed it and what are you feeding it?

 

[demosthenes]

Even if they are well-fed a tank that size will stunt their growth. I would trade him in, if any LFS allow that, and get a better-suited fish.

 

[beach bum]

While a tank upgrade will be necessary, a 3" niger is fine in a 55g tank IME, it shoud not stunt his growth, that is a myth. A 75g and a 55g are both 4ft. long, it's a minor difference in depth. Think more in terms of length when you upgrade - 5 ft, 6ft, etc...
I suspect he is growing, but you look at him everyday so you just aren't seeing it. Triggerfish can grow slowly as compared to most other aggressives. Why don't you take a photo or two now, and compare them six months down the road?
hth

 

[b volitans]

the trigger should be more than fine in a 75g for the time being... now when that fish does start grow you will definitley need at least a 100G tank...I agree with the last post...you look at the fish all the time...you probably don't notice the size difference.

 

[tankstolove]

It will grow to the large fish it was meant to be. You will eventually need a larger tank. Triggers are loved for that very reason by many. Slow early growers, helps when the money is tight and you can't afford a larger tank.
The whole growing up to fit the size of fish, you need in order to keep a small tank is a huge commonly believed myth. If a man was raised in a cell 4x4 he would still grow to be 6'

 

[insguy]

I have a niger trigger, in a 55 gal, with a clown trigger, miniatus grouper and a yellow tang and have had for a year. He came in about 2inches and is not quite 4inches now. I have a relationship with a good quality store locally and they will take him back for store credit if he gets too big. I look at it this way. I have a nice set up. I will get a bigger tank when I can however, I will just trade for a smaller trigger when the time comes. It should not be a problem for a couple of years.