Can I add a Bursa Trigger with my Picasso?

[PuffersKick]

I saw a beautiful Bursa Trigger at a LFS today, but I already have a Picasso Trigger. The guy at the store said that those are 2 of the least aggressive triggers so it "should" work. I just got the Picasso and he's only been in for 1 day so I don't think he has established any territory quite yet.

I've got a 90 gallon tank with the fish listed below in my signature. What do you guys think? Could I safely add the Bursa to my tank?

Thanks.

[Andrew]

Your already stocked. No more fish.

[EdKruzel]

Your contact at the pet store needs to read a book, those two species are far from the least aggressive trigger species.

Even worse is the close appearance making their compatibility even more difficult.
It sounds as if he just wanted to make a sale at your expense.

You are quite heavily stocked when the listed fish reach maturity, if they reach that stage.
Picasso Triggers are notorious Lionfish killers; they are very skilled at avoiding the poisonous spines and tearing the soft under belly from the Lion.

Ed

[Absint Reefer]

agreed man another person making us LFS employees look bad

[Dan Thrash]

i would say that they can coexist. they arent the meanest triggers but they arent the least aggressive either. i would agree with the guys though that a 90 with the fish you already have may be well stocked. you should wait to put another fish in if the picasso was just put in 2 days ago. plus, triggers are good lion killers. if you value your lion, i wouldnt try it.

btw, i like triggers a lot too and i am hoping...some day, to get a ~300 gal FOWLR with a Picasso, Bursa and Rectangular. we'll see....

[PuffersKick]

Thanks guys. I've decided to pass based on all you guy's opinions. It would be nice to get every beautiful fish you see but that's just not reality. I'm very happy with the fish I have and they all get along great. It would be stupid for me to jeprodize that.

One more quick question. 2 of you mentioned triggers to be lion killers. I have my Picasso in with a Volitan and a Dwarf Fuzzy Lion. He does not bother them at all now, but is this something I should worry about?

[EdKruzel]

He does not bother them at all now, but is this something I should worry about?

Yes...

As it matures it will attack and kill the lions; more than likely it will kill the Volitan first.

Ed

[crazy_trigger]

ive got a 180 and my picasso killed two lions so far so thats it for lions in my tamk ive only got two eelsand a yellow tang in mine

[abfleck]

Originally posted by EdKruzel
Your contact at the pet store needs to read a book, those two species are far from the least aggressive trigger species.

Even worse is the close appearance making their compatibility even more difficult.
It sounds as if he just wanted to make a sale at your expense.

You are quite heavily stocked when the listed fish reach maturity, if they reach that stage.
Picasso Triggers are notorious Lionfish killers; they are very skilled at avoiding the poisonous spines and tearing the soft under belly from the Lion.

Ed

I agree here!

[spamin76]

Was it a Rhinecanthus verrucosus(false bursa) or a Sufflamen bursa(true bursa)?

Both are commonly sold as bursa - the verucosus is pretty mild mannered - the bursa on the other hand are actually very aggressive.

Neither would probably be good tank mates - the true bursa is quite aggressive and the false bursa is from the same genus(almost identical body shape) so they may fight.

[PuffersKick]

He had a black belly, and a red stripe around his face. I did some research and a saw a couple of sites that called that fish a "black belly picasso". Gorgeous fish, but like I've decided against it for the sake of my other fish.

The Picasso I have now seem very mild mannered and keeps to himself. The last thing I want is for him to get riled up and disrupt my entire tank. Especially after hearing they can kill lions! I have 2 lions! :eek2:

[Underwood]

I've had two Humas over the years with the last one being with me for the past 4 years... I've had Clown, Bursa, and Bluejaw triggers in the past too and the Huma has been the most aggressive in my opinion. That being said, I've had my Huma with a Lunare Wrasse for about two years and my Volitan Lion for a little over a year with out any problems. I got my Lion when he was about 3.5'' and now he's almost a foot long so he and the trigger tend to not even get close to each other.

I would agree with everyone's opinion that you're pretty much stocked to the max. My Huma is probably 5.5", my Lunare is about 8.5'', and my Lion is almost 12" and I'm looking for another aquarium because the 75 gal I have them in is starting to look to cramped.