Quick Question- Undulate Trigger?

[ReefRigger1]

Hello! New 2 R2R.
Just wondering, I've got a Maroon Clown, Six Line Wrasse and Filefish in my 55g. I have green star polyps & 1 ruby red crab aswell! I was thinking, if I could get a Undulate Trigger and add it to the tank? I know theyre aggresive, and would need a larger tank soon but do you think I could handle it for now?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Clown, Six Line, and Filefish... You probably just listed the Undulated Trigger's first three meals. Lol. Yes, they are just that mean. Read up on them fully, it will be a wild ride.

 

[Ks4726]

I have one, dont do it. It will be fine at first but once it gains some ground it will take those fish out. 55 isn't big enough anyways.

 

[ReefRigger1]

Any other replacement Trigger?

Clown, Six Line, and Filefish... You probably just listed the Undulated Trigger's first three meals. Lol. Yes, they are just that mean. Read up on them fully, it will be a wild ride.

I have one, dont do it. It will be fine at first but once it gains some ground it will take those fish out. 55 isn't big enough anyways.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Unfortunately not, in a 55 gallon. No Triggers, by a longshot. Even the smallest Tang is recommended for 70 gallons (but someone might push a Tomini Tang if there were exceptionally few other fish in the tank). Don't despair, however, there are lots of other cool fish out there for a 55.

 

[KrisReef]

Do it and watch it eat the crab for dinner!

 

[Ks4726]

Any other replacement Trigger?

In a 55 not really. Each trigger is it's own personality so you never know what you're going to get. But cramming them in a small tank and not giving them their space is asking for trouble. Especially with the live stock you already have. Blue throats, red tails, pink tail. nigers are your easier ones, but anything less than 90 gallons you're asking for trouble. I know its not what you want to hear but I have 5 triggers at the moment and have kept others through the years.

 

[littlefoxx]

Hello! New 2 R2R.
Just wondering, I've got a Maroon Clown, Six Line Wrasse and Filefish in my 55g. I have green star polyps & 1 ruby red crab aswell! I was thinking, if I could get a Undulate Trigger and add it to the tank? I know theyre aggresive, and would need a larger tank soon but do you think I could handle it for now?

No… nasty fish! @vetteguy53081 has a story about them. I was tempted too, but Ive never seen or heard of anyone that successfully kept them with other fish

 

[littlefoxx]

I also keep triggers. They are a whole new level of fish keeping in my opinion. I have a clown currently. You really need a way bigger tank for any trigger

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello! New 2 R2R.
Just wondering, I've got a Maroon Clown, Six Line Wrasse and Filefish in my 55g. I have green star polyps & 1 ruby red crab aswell! I was thinking, if I could get a Undulate Trigger and add it to the tank? I know theyre aggresive, and would need a larger tank soon but do you think I could handle it for now?

Undulated is one of the nastier of the group and one that took skin off my finger. Also one of the prettiest but they have teeth and will use it when needed

 

[Ks4726]

No… nasty fish! @vetteguy53081 has a story about them. I was tempted too, but Ive never seen or heard of anyone that successfully kept them with other fish

I dont think there is enough current data on these fish in big enough tanks or with the correct tank mates. There is a handful of stories of these fish at mature sizes. I set this 135 up almost 3 years ago to test the rumors and have had this undulated almost as long. I swap out fish in this tank alot and keep those fish bigger than the trigger so the undulated knows it's place but also is able to share space with other fish. I feel triggers each have their own personality, so it's always a crap shoot on what you'll get.

They are small growers about an inch a year, and this fish is at 3 inches so they next year or two things should start to pick up in aggressiveness. Currently it's with 3 cloudy damsels, gold rim tang who is the biggest jerk I've had in almost 30 years of saltwater, and 2 nigers. It's only killed 1 domino damsels in this whole time so far that came in way too small

 

[JumboShrimp]

Sometimes I really wonder how many LFSs sell unsuspecting customers this beautiful looking fish... with the customer not realizing until it's too late that they have just purchased a pipe bomb. (Gulp!)

 

[Clowning_Around72]

Undulates can work with other fish in large public aquarium type tanks. I've also seen them tolerate damsels and dottybacks in very large home aquariums (probably couldn't catch them more than anything).

In a 55g you not only couldn't keep the trigger long term, but you absolutely cannot expect to have any of your other fish survive.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I dont think there is enough current data on these fish in big enough tanks or with the correct tank mates. There is a handful of stories of these fish at mature sizes. I set this 135 up almost 3 years ago to test the rumors and have had this undulated almost as long. I swap out fish in this tank alot and keep those fish bigger than the trigger so the undulated knows it's place but also is able to share space with other fish. I feel triggers each have their own personality, so it's always a crap shoot on what you'll get.

They are small growers about an inch a year, and this fish is at 3 inches so they next year or two things should start to pick up in aggressiveness. Currently it's with 3 cloudy damsels, gold rim tang who is the biggest jerk I've had in almost 30 years of saltwater, and 2 nigers. It's only killed 1 domino damsels in this whole time so far that came in way too small

Like clown triggers, undulates vary a bit in how aggressive they are. You lucked out though, because overall, undulates are much more aggressive than the average clown. I won't keep one except as a singleton.

Trigger growth also seems variable, but I don't know why; I've had a few Rhinecanthus that hardly grew over a few year's time, while others in the same system grew at what I considered a "normal" rate. All the fish looked good and ate great, just some didn't grow fast......weird.

 

[Ks4726]

Like clown triggers, undulates vary a bit in how aggressive they are. You lucked out though, because overall, undulates are much more aggressive than the average clown. I won't keep one except as a singleton.

Trigger growth also seems variable, but I don't know why; I've had a few Rhinecanthus that hardly grew over a few year's time, while others in the same system grew at what I considered a "normal" rate. All the fish looked good and ate great, just some didn't grow fast......weird.

This tank was set up as a species tank. I hear all the rumors and wanted to see it in person. I always tell hobbyist that ask about triggers each individual has its own personality. Im just riding it out as long as i can. It's still a juvenile so i can't make any claims yet on behavior. Im just thinking, introduce different species of fish so sharing space is a normal thing to this fish. Does this theory hold up????? No clue. It was between the undulated and fuscus when I decided to do it. Undulated was just a smaller species that i could get away with a smaller tank. I am planning an upgrade next year, 300/400 gallons. I already have a 265 gallon, not sure if I'll move my 265 bioload to this upgrade and give the undulated the 265? That's alot of moving things around if I do.

As far as growth i have 3 nigers bought at the same time as the undulated, all 3 have grown to different lengths in that time. Started at 2" now at 7" 6" and 4". Also I have a sargassum trigger that is also a slow grower, about an inch a year. Currently at 5 inches. I agree growth comes down to the individual as well. I love all my triggers. Beautiful fish with more personality than your average fish.

 

[littlefoxx]

I dont think there is enough current data on these fish in big enough tanks or with the correct tank mates. There is a handful of stories of these fish at mature sizes. I set this 135 up almost 3 years ago to test the rumors and have had this undulated almost as long. I swap out fish in this tank alot and keep those fish bigger than the trigger so the undulated knows it's place but also is able to share space with other fish. I feel triggers each have their own personality, so it's always a crap shoot on what you'll get.

They are small growers about an inch a year, and this fish is at 3 inches so they next year or two things should start to pick up in aggressiveness. Currently it's with 3 cloudy damsels, gold rim tang who is the biggest jerk I've had in almost 30 years of saltwater, and 2 nigers. It's only killed 1 domino damsels in this whole time so far that came in way too small

Oh wow!!! Thats super cool. I wonder how it will do when it gets bigger!!! I think youre the first one Ive seen that has this fish with others. Way cool! Thank you for popping in to share how big was it when you first got it??

 

[littlefoxx]

This tank was set up as a species tank. I hear all the rumors and wanted to see it in person. I always tell hobbyist that ask about triggers each individual has its own personality. Im just riding it out as long as i can. It's still a juvenile so i can't make any claims yet on behavior. Im just thinking, introduce different species of fish so sharing space is a normal thing to this fish. Does this theory hold up????? No clue. It was between the undulated and fuscus when I decided to do it. Undulated was just a smaller species that i could get away with a smaller tank. I am planning an upgrade next year, 300/400 gallons. I already have a 265 gallon, not sure if I'll move my 265 bioload to this upgrade and give the undulated the 265? That's alot of moving things around if I do.

As far as growth i have 3 nigers bought at the same time as the undulated, all 3 have grown to different lengths in that time. Started at 2" now at 7" 6" and 4". Also I have a sargassum trigger that is also a slow grower, about an inch a year. Currently at 5 inches. I agree growth comes down to the individual as well. I love all my triggers. Beautiful fish with more personality than your average fish.

Me too!! I plan to add a niger trigger to my tank (I really love them!!) and have the clown and niger together

 

[Ks4726]

Oh wow!!! Thats super cool. I wonder how it will do when it gets bigger!!! I think youre the first one Ive seen that has this fish with others. Way cool! Thank you for popping in to share how big was it when you first got it??

Only 1 inch when i got it. It's like 3 inches now. About 5 inches is when they say attitudes change. We'll see. Unfortunately the miniatus passed away, but these two were buddies when they were together. Holed up together all the time.

 

[ReefRigger1]

This tank was set up as a species tank. I hear all the rumors and wanted to see it in person. I always tell hobbyist that ask about triggers each individual has its own personality. Im just riding it out as long as i can. It's still a juvenile so i can't make any claims yet on behavior. Im just thinking, introduce different species of fish so sharing space is a normal thing to this fish. Does this theory hold up????? No clue. It was between the undulated and fuscus when I decided to do it. Undulated was just a smaller species that i could get away with a smaller tank. I am planning an upgrade next year, 300/400 gallons. I already have a 265 gallon, not sure if I'll move my 265 bioload to this upgrade and give the undulated the 265? That's alot of moving things around if I do.

As far as growth i have 3 nigers bought at the same time as the undulated, all 3 have grown to different lengths in that time. Started at 2" now at 7" 6" and 4". Also I have a sargassum trigger that is also a slow grower, about an inch a year. Currently at 5 inches. I agree growth comes down to the individual as well. I love all my triggers. Beautiful fish with more personality than your average fish.

Wow you have such beautiful fish! 2 nigers, undulated and female bluethroat?

 

[Ks4726]

Me too!! I plan to add a niger trigger to my tank (I really love them!!) and have the clown and niger together

I wouldnt wait too long to add the niger. If the clown is aggressive as it's older it might not like new additions. Once again....triggers each to.their own personality.