Compatibility of Niger trigger and Blue spotted puffer

j4ckfish · 10/23/2016, 12:58 AM

Hey guys, I got a Niger triggerfish and a Blue Spotted Puffer which are both roughly 7cm the trigger being a bit smaller for my 40 gallon tank

. They are eating fine and are settled in but when introduced the trigger had a few stabs at the puffer and now leaves him alone but the puffer sticks to the left hand side of the aquarium and doesn't venture out into the middle and is reclusive and I feel bad and don't want him to say there forever. But i really like the trigger fish since he eats anything and is cool.
I want some opinions on what to do and i was thinking the following:
- return the trigger and get more peaceful fish like clowns with the puffer
- return the puffer and get another small trigger or keep the original by himself.
- keep them both and see if it gets better.
cheers guys any input will be appreciated

MuShu · 10/23/2016, 10:17 AM

Return the trigger and get something smaller/more peaceful. A 40 gallon is not nearly big enough for those guys.

What is it that you particularly like about the trigger? If it's color, try to find something that color that is less aggressive. If you just like the trigger, I would look into possibly setting up a second, much larger, predator tank.

cougareyes · 10/23/2016, 12:15 PM

At best a 40g could be a grow out tank for a 1" trigger for about a year or so, so if that niger is over 2" it needs a bigger home now. Like above if you want something blue; think about a blue assessor, I had one great fish. If you like the way triggers swim check out the small filefish from ORA; I like the radial filefish, you could even get a bonded pair. Filefish are cousins to the trigger, but stay smaller and are way less aggressive.

j4ckfish · 10/23/2016, 11:11 PM

Cheers guys

Jeff4777 · 10/24/2016, 12:04 AM

Yeah a trigger in a 40 is not good long term. I used a 40g breeder to QT my triggers after 13 days of TTM. The behavior was drastically different once they reached the main tank.

j4ckfish · 10/24/2016, 04:57 AM

ive decided to return the trigger for a Valentini puffer as well and some more smaller fish like gobies

Dkuhlmann · 10/24/2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff4777

Yeah a trigger in a 40 is not good long term. I used a 40g breeder to QT my triggers after 13 days of TTM. The behavior was drastically different once they reached the main tank.

FYI a 40 breeder isn't 40 gallons. It's 47.5 gallons. You can Google for the formula and do the math on a tank that measures 36"x18"x17"

Dkuhlmann · 10/24/2016, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j4ckfish

ive decided to return the trigger for a Valentini puffer as well and some more smaller fish like gobies

Good decision

I've got a 40b with a 20gal sump and have 9 fish, you just have to choose the right kind of fish. There are some really cool fish you can get for a smaller tank. Take a look at the Midas Blenny. Great fish and will quickly become a favorite in your tank.

MuShu · 10/24/2016, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j4ckfish

ive decided to return the trigger for a Valentini puffer as well and some more smaller fish like gobies

Great choice. I have a Valentini and love him.

Jeff4777 · 10/26/2016, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

FYI a 40 breeder isn't 40 gallons. It's 47.5 gallons. You can Google for the formula and do the math on a tank that measures 36"x18"x17"

Yes we know how many gallons a 40g breeder is. I'm simply saying a 40g tank is not ideal long term

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10/23/2016, 12:15 PM	#3
cougareyes Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 713	At best a 40g could be a grow out tank for a 1" trigger for about a year or so, so if that niger is over 2" it needs a bigger home now. Like above if you want something blue; think about a blue assessor, I had one great fish. If you like the way triggers swim check out the small filefish from ORA; I like the radial filefish, you could even get a bonded pair. Filefish are cousins to the trigger, but stay smaller and are way less aggressive. __________________ 30g wartskin angler with living color corals::: 125g juvi tank with blueline, clown, niger triggers; passer angel, and jeweled moray eel Current Tank Info: 210g fowlr: yellow belly dogface puffer, harlequin tusk, pinktail and pair of bluejaw triggers, majestic angel, orange shoulder and scopus tangs. one spot fox: 90g lps reef with an antennata , zebra and fuzzy dwarf, fu manchu lions, yellow mimic tang

10/23/2016, 10:17 AM	#2
MuShu Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 322	Return the trigger and get something smaller/more peaceful. A 40 gallon is not nearly big enough for those guys. What is it that you particularly like about the trigger? If it's color, try to find something that color that is less aggressive. If you just like the trigger, I would look into possibly setting up a second, much larger, predator tank.

10/23/2016, 11:11 PM	#4
j4ckfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 37	Cheers guys

10/24/2016, 12:04 AM	#5
Jeff4777 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 518	Yeah a trigger in a 40 is not good long term. I used a 40g breeder to QT my triggers after 13 days of TTM. The behavior was drastically different once they reached the main tank.

10/24/2016, 04:57 AM	#6
j4ckfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 37	ive decided to return the trigger for a Valentini puffer as well and some more smaller fish like gobies