Question for owners of Niger triggers

kreblak

kreblak

FDA approval pending
Mar 13, 2003
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Will a decent sized Niger Trigger (5 inches) turn hermits and snails into dinner? My LFS says no. My reading says all triggers prey on inverts. I have a friend with a 3 inch huma huma trigger who says that it leaves his inverts alone, but my thinking is that it is too small to eat any of them.

My previous Niger trigger was a juvenile, and left everything alone. Also, will an adult trigger go after a cleaner shrimp? Again, I am getting all sorts of conflicting information on this...
 
I do not trust triggers with inverts. Period. Asking a fish that feeds on crustaceans to not see one as food is silly. Are there exceptions? Certainly, though possibly only in the short term. Will keeping the trigger well fed prevent them from eating ornamentals? Nope. It will help, but not prevent.

We have a huma that's about 7-8 inches right now. He eats limpets, snails, basically anything crunchy he can find. The limpets and snails have learned to lay low at night, or hide behind the tubing in the tank. The small snails are usually okay, but not always, I've seen him crush one that dared venture onto the glass during the day.
 
Yeah, I figured as much. All the reading I have done says that triggers will eat snails, shrimp, and hermits without condition. My stupid LFS keeps swearing that Niger triggers are different, though, and that he will leave my cleaners alone.
 
Nigers are a bit different though since they feed on prey in the water column they are much less likely to prey on inverts. With that being said though Nigers are one of the most unpredictable triggers. Some can be the nicest angel possible then there are some that make Queens look like angels. Hermits and Snails have a better chance of surviving with a Niger than most other triggs. So the choice is up to you. Anyway, hope this helps.
 
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