bluethroat or sargassum trigger for reef?

summer6 · #1 06/29/2004, 01:54 PM

Hi - I'd like to add my last fish to my 200 reef (7ft. x 2ft.) and would love to be able to include either a bluethroat or sargassum trigger to the mix.
Have: yellow, kole, hippo tangs,scarlet hawkfish, algae blenny, bullet goby, pair percula clowns.
I would lean towards the bluethroat since it's a little smallert at 12" and eats zooplankton.
Have heard the sargassum is realatively calm for the species but am not sure about it's diet and possibly going after shrimp.snails etc...
Anyone who owns one of the above fish - I'd love to get some feedback.
Thanks

thefishman083 · #2 06/29/2004, 02:14 PM

I dont think that any triggerfish are reef safe because they will eat inverts and they will miss up you aqua scape. So persenaly I wouldnt get any triggerfish for a reef tank

Donovan · #3 06/29/2004, 02:36 PM

I have BOTH a bluethroat and a sargassum in my 250 gallon SPS/clam tank. I have cleaner shrimp, snails, inverts, etc. They are planktonic triggers and are completely reef safe. I have had the sargassum for 2 years and the bluethroat for almost 4.

I say go for it.

thefishman083 · #4 06/29/2004, 02:39 PM

Wow i didnt know that thats cool

StacyT · #5 06/29/2004, 06:33 PM

I kept a blue throat for over a year in my old 80 gallon reef. He never bothered any of the inverts, and was probably the most intersting fish in the tank.

When I tore the tank down I moved him into my 240 FOWLR, but unfortunatly my huma wouldn't leave him alone, so I got rid of the blue throat.

summer6 · #6 06/29/2004, 07:18 PM

Thank you all - for the info. It would be helpful if anyone else w/experience can post too.
Donovan - how big has your bluethroat gotten in 4 yrs?
Lisa

thefishman083 · #7 06/29/2004, 08:00 PM

And Donavon-what did you feed it

lacie143 · #8 06/30/2004, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thefishman083
I dont think that any triggerfish are reef safe because they will eat inverts and they will miss up you aqua scape. So persenaly I wouldnt get any triggerfish for a reef tank

you think wrongly my friend. I think people should know what they are talking about before they respond to a post. Thats like saying that all angels are not reef safe./

Donovan · #9 06/30/2004, 12:23 PM

They seem to be pretty slow growers. My brother had a niger trigger that grew at an incredible rate compared to these guys. He was about 3 inches when I got him - now he is about 5.

They all eat green and brown seaweed, formula 1 and 2, mysis, brine, plankton, scallops, bugs that get zapped by the halides. Just about anything really.

They are messy eaters so will take a toll on your water quality if this is a full blown reef. You need good skimming, filtration, etc.

Email me if you yould like to see some triggers in my reef. I have tons of pics. I have a crosshatch trigger as well...

thefishman083 · #10 06/30/2004, 02:05 PM

Whats you email address

Donovan · #11 06/30/2004, 02:07 PM

check your pm

jdsabin1 · #12 06/30/2004, 02:17 PM

I would like to see pics of the bluethroat as well. I love these fish and am considering one for my 150 gallon 6 foot reef tank.

Can you post them or do you have a web site I can take a look at?

Thanks very much!

thefishman083 · #13 06/30/2004, 02:40 PM

Donovan- Did you get my email

dvmsn · #14 06/30/2004, 03:03 PM

I kept a bluethroat in a reef. Didn't touch corals or clams, but it ate snail, hermit, crabs and shrimp.

Donovan · #15 07/01/2004, 10:51 AM

No I didn't get your email...send it to me again.

Gem Tang Rider · #16 07/01/2004, 11:18 AM

I have a 6 inch blue throat that is not interested in snails or small hermits. They do tend to make sand storms when introduced in the tank. Just trying to make the tank their own.

Scalare102079 · #17 07/01/2004, 12:13 PM

I pick up my X. ringens on saturday! Can't wait!!!!

summer6 · #18 07/01/2004, 03:32 PM

I appreciate the feedback on the bluethroat. Plan on buying one about 3" from my lfs asap - they are beautiful in motion!

Wolverine · #19 07/02/2004, 07:46 AM

What I really like about both crosshatches and bluethroats is that you can get them in pairs. Having a male-female pair of triggers in a reef is pretty sweet.

Dave

Silver Vortex · #20 07/02/2004, 11:00 PM

anyone have pictures of the sargassum in their tanks? Where did you purchase them? I have yet to find a store that actually carries them. I know that liveaquaria says they have them, but they look very much like bluethroats to me.

John

Scalare102079 · #21 07/03/2004, 01:29 PM

Just picked up my sargassum this morning, acclimated and already eating!!!!!!! Will post pic as soon as I can!

Donovan · #22 07/04/2004, 01:51 AM

Sargassum seems to be hard to get. I tried for two years to find one with no luck. Then one day my LFS got a number of them and marine center had them at the same time. Seem to be seasonal...

COreefer · #23 07/04/2004, 11:49 AM

Any trigger is hit or miss IMO. They won't bother corals but may eat your shrimp, crabs and snails. Thats what happened with my sargassum. Don't listen to those that say they are COMPLETELY reef safe...

Wolverine · #24 07/05/2004, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Silver Vortex
anyone have pictures of the sargassum in their tanks? Where did you purchase them? I have yet to find a store that actually carries them. I know that liveaquaria says they have them, but they look very much like bluethroats to me.

Fish Doctors occasionally gets them in. I've seen them at the Canton store, but I don't know if the Ypsi store gets them. I've also seen them at a few stores out on the East side of Detroit, though that would be a little hike for you.

Dave

Silver Vortex · #25 07/05/2004, 07:27 PM

thanks! Though I already picked up a niger at FD. I saw the marine center has sargassums, but they want something crazy for them, like 145.

Thanks for the tip though