Can I Add A Triggerfish To My Saltwater Tank?
If you have ever gone scuba diving or snorkeling in a tropical location, you may have ended up with a triggerfish swimming beside you for a while. Because of their beauty, their curiosity, and their interesting personalities, triggerfish are among the most popular fish among saltwater enthusiasts. But as is the case with any saltwater fish, you need to make sure it is okay for you to add this fish to your own tank before you go out and buy one.
Before you learn anything else about the triggerfish, you need to know that they grow rather large and need a tank that is at least 100 gallons! If you do not have such a large tank – or if you do not plan to upgrade to such a tank – a triggerfish is not the right fish for you!
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You should also keep in mind – even if you have a 100 gallon tank – that the triggerfish is a very aggressive and territorial fish. When the triggerfish looks at invertebrates, coral, fish that are smaller than it, and even fish the same size as it, it will see “dinner.” Even if you put the triggerfish in a tank that is large enough for them, and that has other large fish, you should make sure they are the last fish you add to the tank. In this way, you can marginalize their territorial nature, as they will not have huge territories already claimed as you add new fish.
Finally, you should know that your triggerfish will want to go into an enclosed area at night where it can use its trigger mechanism to lock itself into place. In the wild, this is how it keeps itself safe from predators, and in your tank, this will be how it makes itself feel comfortable.
The triggerfish might be hardy, but it still requires special expertise, and it should therefore not be kept by beginners. But if you want a triggerfish, and if your tank will work for one, you will surely be happy with your triggerfish when you buy one!
