Stop me or Ill do it.. Niger Trigger

[gill again68]

Ok here is the plan. Go to the store and buy one! Now where is this fish going? In my mixed reef! Why shouldnt I just go do that? Well thats what I am asking. Now my "mixed reef" isnt exactly all that just yet. I have a few frags here and there so if he ate everything in the tank it wont break the bank. My question is this, is it really a bad idea or have many of you had success with these in mixed reefs?

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by Gill again68
http:///forum/post/3214335
Ok here is the plan. Go to the store and buy one! Now where is this fish going? In my mixed reef! Why shouldnt I just go do that? Well thats what I am asking. Now my "mixed reef" isnt exactly all that just yet. I have a few frags here and there so if he ate everything in the tank it wont break the bank. My question is this, is it really a bad idea or have many of you had success with these in mixed reefs?
No personal experience, so I should stay quiet. But, I have read several favorable reports of Nigers in reefs on another forum; crabs, snails, etc would be lunch though.

 

[florida joe]

first IMO they belong in an aggressive tank. Second if you have the money to spend on corals for them to pic on send some money my way, I personally do not know of anyone that keeps a trigger in a reef tank

 

[gill again68]

Thanks guys for the input.
Is there anyone who is doing this now? I too have read several things and the LFS guys seem to th ink I can do it. Would rather get some input from people that are or have done it. I do know there are some risk and I worry for my crabs and shrimp. However I have see anything is possible in this job errrr hobbie ummmm investment uhhhhhh trade??????

 

[moondog]

I think Coral Keeper has one in his reef, or at least he used to.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3214343
first IMO they belong in an aggressive tank. Second if you have the money to spend on corals for them to pic on send some money my way, I personally do not know of anyone that keeps a trigger in a reef tank
This sure is an area I'd almost always agree with Joe. BUT. Here's what Scott Michael (Author, Marine Fishes) has to say. "Can be housed in a reef aquarium, but may nip at sponges, tunicates, ornamental crustaceans, and snails. Harmless to corals....." I've read a couple other opinions that consider Nigers and corals safe together. But you are right to worry about your crabs & shrimp, I think they would be trigger food immediately. They are a big part of a Niger's natural diet; they don't use those great red teeth to open beer bottles. I just don't know 1st hand, but consider Scott Michael to be a real expert in this area. But I respect Joe's opinion as well and know I can bug him, while Michael will ignore me!

 

[gill again68]

Thanks, I dont think I will do this until I hear of some people that are doing this with shrimp. I certainly dont want to play with my critters lives. I just know that no matter how much we try these are wild animals and even the most tested ideas can be proven wrong while the untested or not recommended can work. This hobby, or whatever you decide to call it, is difficult at best to find opinions that are consistent. Thats why I ask and have been looking for people that have done it. I really appreciate all the input.

 

[carolinaboy]

Ive got a friend that has a reef tank with a niger trigger in it. And he also has 2 shrimp in it (cleaner and peppermint) and the niger trigger is beset friends with the cleaner shrimp and the cleaner shrimp non stop cleans him to. Its funny to watch.

 

[bulldog123]

Ive had a niger in my mixed reef for about 10 months. I also had a fire shrimp in the tank before the niger with no problems. Now when I tried to add a cleaner after, it was dinner before it hit the bottom of the tank. I have never seen the niger pick at any hermits or snails or even corals. I would guess it is about 4" and fat as he**.

 

[rcreations]

I had a Niger in a full reef tank for 6 months with no problems. They don't bother corals, but they do eat the cleanup crew (hermits, snails, conchs, etc)

 

[gill again68]

So as with many topics here I find the "it worked for me factor" but it does seem to be a hit or miss. I really love that fish and I dont want to put the rest of my tank at risk. I guess that every time I put a new fish in the tank there will be some risk. Yesterday I put a Lawn Mower Blenny in the tank. He is about 3 inches. Well he chased my Coral Beauty for the first couple of hours. Go figure.
Thanks again for all the input. If any others have experience please chime in.

 

[fishkid13]

I believe Coral Keeper, still has one in his reef.

 

[seamandrew]

I've had both a niger trigger and a humu humu in a mixed reef once. I love triggers and I thought, sure, I'll buy clams from the supermarket and the occasional snails for them to munch on and they would leave some of the cleaner crew alone. Well it turned out I was wrong. Triggers have voracious appetites and will eat most invertebrates in the mollusk or crustacean families. So my suggestion to you is not to get the niger trigger for your mixed reef as you will need the crabs, snails, starfish, shrimp, sea urchins, feather dusters, clams, etc. to do the cleaning.

 

[gill again68]

Well as it would have it. I have been talked out of the Niger! I do want a trigger though and my go for a blue throat. What do you all have to say about that?

 

[beth]

I say, decide if you want a reef tank, with compatible species of animals, or you want an aggressive tank with compatible species.
The two are not interchangeable.

 

[9supratt4]

Go with the Blue Throat!! I know a lot of people who have them in their reef's!! But be forewarned....every fish is different!! Although a lot of people keep them in their reefs with no problem....it doesn't mean that the fish you get will be ok in your reef, but I think the odds are in your favor.

 

[socal57che]

Devil's advocate time...
They can go either way and, as they grow, the threat increases that they will begin to nip. Blue throats are supposed to be little safer than a niger, but I've only kept a niger. Been in there for around 6 years, never an issue. I do lose an occasional hermit and blame my niger for it. We are talking one or two per year, not like I have to buy and endless supply for him to snack on. Train him early to eat a specific food.
I'm not recommending that you buy one, just letting you know my experience in keeping one with corals.
Here's a link to my tank thread..
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/s...d.php?t=319841

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Bulldog123
http:///forum/post/3214612
Ive had a niger in my mixed reef for about 10 months. I also had a fire shrimp in the tank before the niger with no problems. Now when I tried to add a cleaner after, it was dinner before it hit the bottom of the tank. I have never seen the niger pick at any hermits or snails or even corals. I would guess it is about 4" and fat as he**.
Add livestock at night while the lights are out and the trigger is asleep...now that he realized that they are food, you prolly won't ever be able to add them. I have shrimp, hermits and a pom pom with mine.

 

[gill again68]

Again thanks for all the support. Anyone with experience with a sargassum trigger?

 

[seamandrew]

Seriously, if you have a mixed reef tank Gill, I wouldn't get a trigger. I love triggers just as much as anyone, but you can't take the risk that it won't consume your inverts.