Small Yellow Gobies with Hawaiian Trigger?

[KristiYates]

Hello! I've had my 29 gallon tank for 3 years now, and I just got a second tank! It's a 150 gallon DT with a 30 gallon sump. My dad gave me the tank, and he had it up for almost 10 years before giving it to me. I know I'm lucky!

Anyway, I have questions about what I can add. I have 3 clownfish, a yellow coris wrasse, a green chromis (want to add a few more so he can have friends), and a black hawaiian trigger. Everyone is mellow and happy. Can I add like 5 yellow clown gobies? I have one in my nano tank and they are so cute! Has anyone had them in groups, or with a big fish like the trigger?

Thanks!

 

[HotRocks]

Hello! I've had my 29 gallon tank for 3 years now, and I just got a second tank! It's a 150 gallon DT with a 30 gallon sump. My dad gave me the tank, and he had it up for almost 10 years before giving it to me. I know I'm lucky!

Anyway, I have questions about what I can add. I have 3 clownfish, a yellow coris wrasse, a green chromis (want to add a few more so he can have friends), and a black hawaiian trigger. Everyone is mellow and happy. Can I add like 5 yellow clown gobies? I have one in my nano tank and they are so cute! Has anyone had them in groups, or with a big fish like the trigger?

Thanks!

Thoughts? @4FordFamily @eatbreakfast

 

[4FordFamily]

They can be kept in groups but your trigger could decide to make them lunch.

They often will establish separate territories and won’t “school” or “shoal”. Keep that in mind while stocking :)

 

[eatbreakfast]

It may be difficult adding small fish to a tank with an established black trigger. Black triggers are well behaved, but he will most likely view anything added to the tank as a meal.

You may be able to "test" it out by adding the gobies to an acclimation box and seeing the triggee's response.

 

[mort]

You may be able to "test" it out by adding the gobies to an acclimation box and seeing the triggee's response.

I'd also suggest that after you release the gobies that you do it after the trigger has gone to bed. That way the gobies can find shelter in the reef without having to temptingly swim past the trigger. I know the gobies have a noxious mucus layer but I'm not sure a hawaiian fish would have encountered them before to know it.

 

[KristiYates]

thanks everybody! I'll rethink the gobies. It sounds like they aren't a perfect fit. I want some more yellow in my tank, but I also want a tang, so I'll just get a yellow one and call it good. :)