blue jaw trigger behaviour

salty joe · Apr 19, 2020

I'm thinking about getting a pair of blue jaw triggers. Just wondering how aggressive they get when adults. Would things like tail spot blenny and cleaner shrimp and snails be on the menu?

Also, do they need anything special to keep their teeth ground down?

lion king · Apr 19, 2020

They don't have the real snarly teeth you see on some triggers, so there is no special care that needs to be taken. But they do have teeth and will get to over 7" easily, my pair is over 7" and their growth has slowed somewhat. So any fish with teeth that gets that big will likely take down shrimp and I wouldn't keep small fish with them. As a rule bluejaws are not considered that aggressive, but that is also in comparison to other triggers, large angels, or tangs. Mine will have light scrabbles with some of their tank mates, all large fish with their own means of protection.

Big G · Apr 19, 2020

Pretty good article on Triggers: https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium-fish-triggerfish/

saltyhog · Apr 19, 2020

I had to re-home mine due to him trying to kill some of my wrasses. He took a big hunk out of the tail of one of my flasher wrasses and if I hadn't intervened I'm sure he would have been toast.