Two Triggers?

[mitch5655]

Could two larger triggers (one niger, one blue throat) live happily in the same tank?

The tank is 80 gallons.

[bluestarfish]

I'm going no on this one. 2 large triggers in 80g no where near enough room.

[mitch5655]

Alright. Thanks. Just checking before I go and do something stupid.

Have any other ideas for tankmates?
I know I would like 1 trigger but also would like another predatory/carnivorous fish who would not get wrecked by the trigger.

[chasekwe]

Some fish to look into would be puffers, small groupers, Thalassoma wrasses, depending on the trigger certain lionfish.

Hawkfish are carnivorous, dunno if they'd be sufficiently predatory for you. Look into eels also.

[aulepe]

The niger trigger will likely get too big for the tank. The bluechin is quite peaceful, so you might have problems w/ aggressive fish picking on it...

[mitch5655]

Blue throat trigger and radiata lionfish?

[AquaKnight]

Originally Posted by mitch5655

Could two larger triggers (one niger, one blue throat) live happily in the same tank?

The tank is 80 gallons.

How "large" of triggers are we talking about? A large Blue Jaw 6"+ or a large Niger 6"+ is really too big for an 80gal by himself, let alone with another equally large trigger.

Originally Posted by chasekwe

Some fish to look into would be puffers, small groupers, Thalassoma wrasses, depending on the trigger certain lionfish.

Hawkfish are carnivorous, dunno if they'd be sufficiently predatory for you. Look into eels also.

Dude, please check what size tank the OP has before making such garish stocking suggestions.... With the expection of the hawkfish, none of the fish you mentioned are candidates for an 80gal....

[mitch5655]

Sorry after reading more info, 3-4 inches for the trigger is what I would be looking for.

[Chris27]

I've seen them in the same tank before - just not a 80 Gal. If you could find small enough specimans of each, they would be fine together in that tank for a good while, but they will get big (niger's can get huge), and will need a larger tank eventually. If you've got plans in the future for a 200 Gal or larger tank, I say go for it...

[tozzi]

Maybe if you got them both at 2". But plan on getting a bigger tank in the next year

[billdogg]

FWIW - you should never get fish that you know will outgrow your current tank because "I'm gonna get a bigger tank" WAIT until you have the larger tank, then stick accordingly.

JM.02

[chasekwe]

Originally Posted by AquaKnight

Dude, please check what size tank the OP has before making such garish stocking suggestions.... With the expection of the hawkfish, none of the fish you mentioned are candidates for an 80gal....

Ok just so my advice doesn't get passed by I'll specify further. I'd hope the OP would do better research than this poster prior to dismissing anything but here we go. 80 Gallons, I've read it.


PUFFERS:

Any of the canthigaster puffers will grow in the range of 3-5" and is perfectly suitable for a tank as much as 20-30 gallons smaller than yours. The mimic saddle puffer (Paraluterus prionurus) grows to 4-5" in captivity and can do well in an aquarium much smaller than yours.

The Spiny Box Puffer grows quite large 10-12" but both Blue Zoo and LA suggest it would do fine in a tank smaller than yours. All the more if you really only plan to keep a couple fish.

That's at least 8 relatively commonly available puffer fish that would do well in your tank.


GROUPERS: (soapfish, hamlets)

All of these fish, some of which grow relatively small are cleared by both Blue Zoo and LA for tanks < 75g. Indigo Hamlets only grow to 5.5" in example.

Grammistes sexlineatus
Hypoplectrus indigo
Paraplesiops poweri
Pogonoperca punctata


Thalassoma Wrasses:

I can think of at least 5 that could go into an 80g off the top of my head. Commons ones would be the Bluehead, Pinkface and Paddlefin ranging in size from 6-7".


Lionfish: (assuming more docile triggers)

Every single lionfish commonly sold will do from fine to excellent in an 80g tank. Even the larger types like volatins due to the slow moving or stationary nature of these fish. Though I'd select one of the nice variety of much smaller lions personally.


Eels:

There are a wide variety of eels, including the aquarium trade favorite, the Snowflake, that will do well in an 80g aquarium.


Hope this helps Mitch, remember to always do your own research too, these boards can steer a person wrong sometimes.

[mitch5655]

Thanks for that info chase. I'm definitely going to be doing more research I just wanted to hear some input from experienced people so I can get a general idea of what to look out for.