Titan, Fuscus, or Male undulated trigger

[Hunkles]

After some months I give up looking for a queen trigger. I have a 240 that I want to dedicate to a triggerfish, which one should I go with? The Titan is a bit crazy but interesting at the same time as I don't know what their captive size really is I would assume it still gets at least 20". The Fuscus should get around 16" and undulate around 10". I can't decide so I'd like to hear peoples long term experience with these fish.

 

[Ks4726]

If you're going to dedicated a tank that size to a single fish, you should decide. What would you rather look at for the next 10+ years. Titan is unrealistic. Adult queen is too big anyway for that size tank. Fuscus will grow quicker and larger than an undulated but both will be obnoxious once they grow a bit. With an undulated you're looking about an inch a year growth if your lucky. Ive had mine 2 1/2 years/3 years. Im at 3 inches. Long term the smaller size of the undulated will help you out.

 

[Hunkles]

If you're going to dedicated a tank that size to a single fish, you should decide. What would you rather look at for the next 10+ years. Titan is unrealistic. Adult queen is too big anyway for that size tank. Fuscus will grow quicker and larger than an undulated but both will be obnoxious once they grow a bit. With an undulated you're looking about an inch a year growth if your lucky. Ive had mine 2 1/2 years/3 years. Im at 3 inches. Long term the smaller size of the undulated will help you out.

I'm more concerned about the personality of them.
The Titan being in the same genus as the clown is what makes me wonder how big the get in the aquarium because clown in the wild get 16+ in but in captivity even after like 15 years the biggest clown you'll see will only be about 12"

 

[Ks4726]

I'm more concerned about the personality of them.
The Titan being in the same genus as the clown is what makes me wonder how big the get in the aquarium because clown in the wild get 16+ in but in captivity even after like 15 years the biggest clown you'll see will only be about 12"

Triggers have their own personalities to each individual. You'll never know till it starts growing but if it's cramped and crowded you're individual may have a reason to be grumpy. Ive seen 12 " clown triggers as fat as a footballs. It's still a big fish.

 

[Hunkles]

Triggers have their own personalities to each individual. You'll never know till it starts growing but if it's cramped and crowded you're individual may have a reason to be grumpy. Ive seen 12 " clown triggers as fat as a footballs. It's still a big fish.

But the species typically does have a play in personality along side the random personality of that particular fish I find female undulated are really people shy for example.

 

[LPS Bum]

I have a 240 gal FOWLR, and I can't imagine housing a Titan Trigger in there. They get absolutely HUGE. I know Live Aquaria sells them, but they really shouldn't.

So many great triggers to choose from that would fit. I have a Sargassum and a Blue Throat, and they're great. Clown triggers are awesome but super aggressive. The Red Sea Assasi triggers are really cool as well.

 

[Hunkles]

I have a 240 gal FOWLR, and I can't imagine housing a Titan Trigger in there. They get absolutely HUGE. I know Live Aquaria sells them, but they really shouldn't.

So many great triggers to choose from that would fit. I have a Sargassum and a Blue Throat, and they're great. Clown triggers are awesome but super aggressive. The Red Sea Assasi triggers are really cool as well.

I honestly want something to keep alone because I don't want to quarantine a whole community of fish one at a time. I've been keeping fish for years and even after a several months quarantine something will eventually slip through the gates ime.
I don't say I was set on a Titan I was just curious about how big they actually grow in captivity I'm sure it's still big. Queen, blueline, or undulated are more more serious considerations but the queen seems to be unattainable.

 

[Ks4726]

But the species typically does have a play in personality along side the random personality of that particular fish I find female undulated are really people shy for example.

I agree with you, all those triggers in your op are all aggressive to some point. You seemed to be settled on an aggressive fish. I currently have 5 triggers and they all can/will do some damage to some degree. My 3 inch niger bit my hand last weekend, and broke skin. That was the smallest of my 3. Between the fuscus and undulated the smaller fish is sometimes the logical choice was just my advice.

 

[Hunkles]

I agree with you, all those triggers in your op are all aggressive to some point. You seemed to be settled on an aggressive fish. I currently have 5 triggers and they all can/will do some damage to some degree. My 3 inch niger bit my hand last weekend, and broke skin. That was the smallest of my 3. Between the fuscus and undulated the smaller fish is sometimes the logical choice was just my advice.

Does your undulated hide a lot or is it always out and about. I'm afraid of I got an undulated that it would just hide.

 

[Ks4726]

Does your undulated hide a lot or is it always out and about. I'm afraid of I got an undulated that it would just hide.

When I first got it at about an inch it hid e alot. Came out to eat only As it grows it became alot more bold. At 3 inches it's always out and about. I have it with bigger fish to help keep it in check, but the tank was set up for the undulated alone. Ill keep the other fish in there as long as I can.

 

[Hunkles]

When I first got it at about an inch it hid e alot. Came out to eat only As it grows it became alot more bold. At 3 inches it's always out and about. I have it with bigger fish to help keep it in check, but the tank was set up for the undulated alone. Ill keep the other fish in there as long as I can.

How big is your tank? I also kinda feel 240 is a little overkill for a single 10-12" in trigger alone.

 

[Ks4726]

That tank is a 135. I'll upgrade eventually. I have a 7 foot 265 gallon too. In my 265 I have a 12 inch orange shoulder tang and a 10 inch emperor. Honestly the tank is too small for either of them.

 

[Hunkles]

That tank is a 135. I'll upgrade eventually. I have a 7 foot 265 gallon too. In my 265 I have a 12 inch orange shoulder tang and a 10 inch emperor. Honestly the tank is too small for either of them.

I personally don't think you need to upgrade either tank. But I guess everyone has their own opinion.
Don't get me wrong bigger is always better but you dont always need bigger.

 

[Ks4726]

I personally don't think you need to upgrade either tank. But I guess everyone has their own opinion.
Don't get me wrong bigger is always better but you dont always need bigger.

Kinda what I told you about the smaller undulated lol. You're correct but yes I do. In the undulated tank there is a clown tang that's going to need an upgrade. The 265 is in my bedroom, it was custom built and alot of money can't go any bigger in that. Thats not going anywhere. My 135 is in my garage. I'm flirting with getting a 400 or 500 acrylic in the garage and move all my fish out there and give the 265 to the undulated and damsels. However it's stupid to move all those fish into the garage where I can only enjoy them sometimes. I spend alot of time in my garage, but not that much time. I'll see how it goes though, clown tang is only like 6 inches at the moment

 

[Hunkles]

Kinda what I told you about the smaller undulated lol. You're correct but yes I do. In the undulated tank there is a clown tang that's going to need an upgrade. The 265 is in my bedroom, it was custom built and alot of money can't go any bigger in that. Thats not going anywhere. My 135 is in my garage. I'm flirting with getting a 400 or 500 acrylic in the garage and move all my fish out there and give the 265 to the undulated and damsels. However it's stupid to move all those fish into the garage where I can only enjoy them sometimes. I spend alot of time in my garage, but not that much time. I'll see how it goes though, clown tang is only like 6 inches at the moment

I meant a 135 for an undulated had no idea about the clown tang though a 7 ft 265 I would personally think is fine a a clown tang

 

[Ks4726]

I meant a 135 for an undulated had no idea about the clown tang though a 7 ft 265 I would personally think is fine a a clown tang

Like i said my ost is pushing a foot. When you see it in person it's not big enough. And if the clown is a ****** it's going to terrorize everything. I'll see how it goes.

I hope you get some more comments from trigger owners to give you more insight

 

[LPS Bum]

I honestly want something to keep alone because I don't want to quarantine a whole community of fish one at a time. I've been keeping fish for years and even after a several months quarantine something will eventually slip through the gates ime.
I don't say I was set on a Titan I was just curious about how big they actually grow in captivity I'm sure it's still big. Queen, blueline, or undulated are more more serious considerations but the queen seems to be unattainable.

Yeah that can happen. I’ve been there myself. Buying from reputable vendors that fully quarantine could be a good move for you. You could then run them through a formalin or H202 bath prior to putting them in your DT.

If you want just a few big predatory fish, you could get your Trigger of choice, a Lionfish, a Puffer or two, and even a Large Angel or two. That would be a nice set up. You’d just need good flow and filtration.

 

[Hunkles]

Yeah that can happen. I’ve been there myself. Buying from reputable vendors that fully quarantine could be a good move for you. You could then run them through a formalin or H202 bath prior to putting them in your DT.

If you want just a few big predatory fish, you could get your Trigger of choice, a Lionfish, a Puffer or two, and even a Large Angel or two. That would be a nice set up. You’d just need good flow and filtration.

I'm very careful about where my fish come from and my quarantine process. Sometimes it just doesn't matter and a parasite finds it's way into your display.
That being said I genuinely don't mind having one really aggressive trigger in a tank and nothing else.

 

[mfollen]

A queen and certainly a titan will outgrow a 280g tank. The queen and titan also both grow much faster than one would think.

Titans patrol very very large territories in the wild. A 500 g really should be the utmost minimum for longer term housing, but not big enough for long term care of an animal’s life you commit too, just my 2 cents.

Amazing fish though.

Your best bet is keeping an undulated, a clown trigger will work in a 280g for quite some time.

Good luck

 

[Hunkles]

A queen and certainly a titan will outgrow a 280g tank. The queen and titan also both grow much faster than one would think.

Titans patrol very very large territories in the wild. A 500 g really should be the utmost minimum for longer term housing, but not big enough for long term care of an animal’s life you commit too, just my 2 cents.

Amazing fish though.

Your best bet is keeping an undulated, a clown trigger will work in a 280g for quite some time.

Good luck

Well I do really like undulated triggers but I'd only want a male. and the only male I've seen actually just came in stock on violet aquariums wysiwyg but that store is awful. I don't think I could find a queen anyways and the Titan was more of a curiosity because idk how big the actually grow in aquariums.