Clown trigger or large angel tankmates?

A

a7oneal

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Dec 27, 2004
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I read the previous thread regarding the selection of large aggressive species, and that helped me decide to eliminate most lionfish from my short list of possible fish (I had previously heard that they were ok, although I have a friend who lost a volitans to a humu humu).

I am considering a large aquarium purchase. This won't happen for at least 6 months (moving), but I am a big believer in planning before purchase. I am looking at something along the lines of 125 to 150 gallons.

My primary interest in purchasing an aquarium of this size would be to get a clown trigger. I'd like to get a smaller one and grow it up.

This seems to be the million dollar question. Some said that puffers would be ok. Which species? What about eels? Certain wrasses? What are your suggestions as far as tankmates? "Nothing" is an acceptable answer for me.

What about if I had a large angel (probably an emperor angel) instead of the clown trigger? What would be the best tankmates for a large angel?

I haven't kept these large species before (much less together), so any advice would be great. I thank you in advance.
 
I've kept a few species of Trigger (Assasi, Humu, Niger)...but never the Clown.

From what I understand, Clowns do best in a tank with other large, same temperment fish...groupers, puffers, other triggers. I'm not sure how the Clown/Eel thing would go though.

The main reason I've never kept a Clown Trigger or a Queen Trigger is because both species (Clowns especially) are known to be good tanks mates....then, one day you come home and the entire tank has been slaughtered. They can just flip out, at any given time (mostly when they're bigger), and kill everything they can find.

If you decide to keep a Clown, just be preparted down the road, to keep it in a tank by itself....or, with 1 other very large and agressive fish.
 
Do you know anything about the black durgon (Melichthys niger)? They are more agreeable in temperament, it seems.

I know about the red-toothed trigger (Odonus niger) and the Rhinecanthus species being less belligerent. I also know the queen (as you alluded to in your post) and undulated triggers have a reputation of not always "playing well with others."

I don't have much knowledge on the other species in captivity, other than knowing what they are because I've seen them from time to time.
 
Clown Triggers are infamous for their Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde personality. They can get along amiably for months/years with other tankmates then one night decide their tank is too crowded and kill off all others. Puffers are a bad choice because they are pretty inactive (the Arothron ones anyway) and an easy target for a mad Trigger. Queens are notorious for not playing well with others. I used to have two and they grew extremely fast. I bought them in January at 1 inch and by Jan the next year they were already past the 6" mark. Eels will do ok as long as you have enough rock for them to conceal their entire bodies under. Some wrasses will do good like the Thalassoma Wrasses are best due to their high speeds. The Melichthys niger trigger is more amiable to tankmates. They also attain at least a foot-> foot and a half so they get big and eat a lot (all triggs do). What other species do you want to know about? I have kept most of the species available on the market. Hope this helps and good luck
 
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