FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I inherited a Picasso trigger, who's now in a 90-gallon setup along with a yellow tang I also inherited. Any suggestions as to tankmates? Those two have been together for several years and get along quite well; the trigger is now about five inches long, and shows no signs of aggression although I'm told that may change as it gets bigger.

I want to eventually add a couple more fish to the setup; any suggestions as to fish that would be able to stand up to the trigger even if it does start flexing more muscle?

Honestly the tank is IMO pretty much stocked to its limits. Finding a fish that can stand up to the trigger and not take out fish itself is gonna be a tough one. Its pretty much gonna be hit or miss and getting fish that are faster than it is, just as aggressive, or bigger.

Probably won't be all that far distant in the future before the Picasso Trigger needs that 90G all to himself.

Rhinecanthus aculeatus reaches 30 cm - that's a 12 inch fish. Triggers are territorial fishes in the wild, the degree varying with species of course, and the larger Triggers make correspondingly large demands on space as they grow. As far as i'm aware, Picasso Triggers aren't as notorious as some species for being savage berserkers when eliminating competition (one REALLY bad species is Balistapus undulatus, which simply CANNOT be kept with ANYTHING else because it'll attack all comers on sight) but if it feels cramped, chances are the Picasso Trigger might opt for the 'simple but brutal' solution. Probably going to be some messy internecine warfare in there if the Picasso Trigger picks a fight with the Tang and the Tang erects its 'switchblades' in defence ...

I'd also make sure you can put a divider in there when maintenance is needed as time passes. A big Trigger in a bad mood can leave some lurid looking wounds on a human forearm with those mouthparts - don't forget they're designed for cracking open clams and breaking apart Sea Urchins!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Thanks, that's really helpful. I really like this fish -- he's got a definite personality, so even if he's by himself, it will still be an interesting tank!