Breeding Triggerfish

[Xenoblade]

Hey there, sorry I just realized I posted this to the wrong thread.

I realize there’s not really any Aquacultured triggers, as their breeding habits are “hard to replicate in captivity”. But I was wondering if anyone’s done it, and can share some tips?

I want to help breed triggers, as I love triggers, and I don’t want to buy a fish that isn’t Aquacultured. But I’m also just a dude in an apartment, so if it needs 1000 gallons of barrels, I likely can’t replicate it right now.

I know in freshwater you can essentially coerce some fish into breeding much easier by (for example) throwing 2 angels in an empty 10 gallon with only a “breeding cone” in with them.

In saltwater, would there be something of a similar philosophy? Throwing 2 blue throat triggers in a 40 breeder and only scattered/loose liverock?

I’m just trying to think of something that would increase the “want” for breeding in a trigger, while still keeping them safe and happy. As I know they can get aggressive, and don’t want them hurting each other. If a 40 breeder were to work, maybe an egg crate down the middle to separate them most of the time?

Lastly I’ve read that blue throat triggers are really the only triggers that can easily “pair”, so for starting out an experiment like this, would blue throats be the easiest to start with?

 

[Tahoe61]

My best suggestion is to seek a volunteer position at a local aquarium if able.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Most triggers are going to need hundreds of gallons to successfully spawn. Not like cichlids unfortunately. Triggers like the bluethroat, pinktail, niger, sargassum are fish that spawn up in the water column after a mating display, something really not feasible in home aquaria.

The substrate spawning species also aren't really feasible. Titan triggers for example are going to need absolutely massive enclosures for 1, let alone a pair, and aren't really suited for home aquariums.