stumped and confused

[palmer373]

going to remodel the 55 tomarow into a fowlr. got a slight problem with fish tho:
went to alaska saltwater aquariums today and fell in love with a 2" (its flipping small!) niger trigger. talking to brian (fish geek there) about maybe trading my 6" undy and some cash for the niger. ive got a few problems tho. ill be done with HS and off to college in 3 years so i want a fish that can live with me for that long. i dont know how long it would take a niger to grow to about 8" (seems resonable to move out of the 55 at that size). any ideas? maybe trigger gurus could chime in here.
also ive been thinking of tankmates for the niger. i really want him so im trying to think of a simple stocking list that wouldnt create problems. if the niger would outgrow the 55 faster than expected ill rethink all of this tho. what i was thinking was the niger, a 3" fu manchu that brian also has (at his place), a toby (or pair) and maybe an eel later. i do know that triggers and lions dont mix (ive seen the vids) but because the trigger is a planktonivore i think (mouth turned up, higher on face) and it is peacefuller i was wondering if the fu would be at risk. if the fu manchu would be picked on would a cockatoo waspfish work to replace it? isnt the frilly and pointy fins of lions is what gets nipped by triggers? the cockatoo doesnt have those so wouldnt it be ok?
im kindof confused because i want the niger really badly but im not sure how long it would take to reach about 8" and what other tankmates would work with the trigger. any ideas? should i just not get the niger? wat else would you recommend? thanks for the help.
-Alex

 

[rcreations]

I think it's doable as long as you have the right tank mates. (no other triggers or agressive fish. no tangs, no lions, etc...) Might be ok to add something like a small wrasse (like a yellow wrasse), a dwarf angelfish.

 

[palmer373]

finally got some honest imput instead of 'triggers and lions no no' lol
ok thanks so do you have any idea how long it would take a niger to grow to 8"? also on a stocking idea (i knwo you said no tangs but this one is 'peaceful'), there was a 2" yellow eye kole tang thats awesome at another LFS, would i be pushing it with that? i know they dont get big and i have GHA so i thought it would be a nice addition.
so like the niger, a wrasse, dwarf angel, and maybe the kole be ok? oh ya i have 4-5 damsels (3-4 chromis and a 3 strip) int he tank because i dont want to put them in the 75.
thanks, more imput appreciated!
EDIT: would a toby work as a tankmate? been thinking of one...

 

[rcreations]

My opinion, having had 2 nigers and still have one, 2 - 8" would take about 4 years. It might reach 4" fast, but then the growth will slow down.
The reason I said no tangs is because a 55gal isn't big enough for even small tangs. Not that it won't get along with the trigger, because tangs and triggers actually make good tank mates.

 

[palmer373]

wow thats good to know thanks RCreations im getting the niger tomarow! would the niger, SFE, small wrasse (know of any that dont sleep in the sand besides sixline? only have 1" SB) 4 chromis and a 3 strip and maybe 1 other small fish work? also i have a problem with GHA in the tank. besides cheato in the sump any ideas on what i can get thatll eat it?
thanks for the help!

 

[rcreations]

The two wrasses I have now, both need a sandbed (yellow and red coris). I know the flame wrasse doesn't need a sandbed, it sleeps between rocks and so does the cleaner wrasse. Same with the Lunare Wrasse, but that gets too big for a 55gal. I believe the fairy wrasses don't need a sandbed either, but maybe someone else can confirm. I never had one, I just remember reading that.
Also, make sure you have a good skimmer if you're gonna have a snowflake and niger in a 55gal.

 

[palmer373]

hmm ok that limits my options, i was thinking of a yellow wrasse cause they are simple and cheap but ill rethink. i have a SWC 120 on my 55, clean it weekly (lot of skimate) but i only had 8 small fish in the tank. the SFE is a maybe but when the niger gets bigger ill be cleaning it bi/triweekly.

 

[rcreations]

If you can slope your sand so there's 2" on one side, you can get a yellow wrasse. They don't grow too big so 2" is enough.

 

[palmer373]

do the yellow wrasses prefer sleeping in open sand or in sand taht is covered in rocks for protection? i can always scoop out a cup or two of sand from the 75 and build a lil deep sand spot. would be easiest in the open but i can do it around the rocks.

 

[rcreations]

Both my wrasses sleep in the open, all the way on the right side of the tank, next to the glass. I think if you build it a deep spot, it'll find it.

 

[ironeagle2006]

I have had 3 Lunare Wrasses and not one of them has behaved like the Experts or Books stated they should. My current one is best friends with my get this Engineer gobies to the point it Brings them FOOD. How many Wrasses do you know that will do that.

 

[palmer373]

lol nice ironeagle, what size tank(s) are they in? it be nice ot get one for the 55 but they will outgrow it fast.

 

[ironeagle2006]

Everytime I get a luare I swear it is my last however I always get another one. They have such charactor it is not funny. Mine is 4 inches and crazy as all get out at times he tried to bully a Adult Queen Angel. Did not work at ALL. Last I saw of the Luanre Yesterday was him heading for the Gobies BURROW with the Queen on his BUTT.

But the Queen will not even look at anyother fish in the tank to get mean towards.