An expensive lesson learned....

[Firefish]

So, I 've been reading that many people have been keeping Niger Triggers & Humuhumu triggers together (I think that's what I have? see pic & let me know if I'm right)
So I thought since it's a 150 gallon tank with a good 100lbs of lr to hide in, and only 4 fish in there I'd pick up a Niger and see how it does... very-very-very bad idea.

I got home with the Niger, still in the bag. I put the bag in the tank to get the fish acclimated to the water temp... Fed the Humuhumu some krill, shut off the lights and took a shower.
After my 15 minute sower I figured it was time to introduce the Niger to his new home. The Humuhumu at this point was up against the bag checking out his new "friend"
I cut open the bag, grabbed him with my net and dumped him into the tank...

Well, within 25 seconds the Humuhumu had torn that Niger up real bad.
I tried to remove it but the Niger made an attempt to hide in the rock. The Humuhumu darted in after it and finished the job.
I've never seen anything like it. It was like throwing a slab of prime rib to a starving Rottweiler!

This Humuhumu will bite me when I'm in there doing maintenance, I have to shew it away with my hand and he just keeps coming back. Absolutely no fear at all. He dosn't bother the two clowns and damsel that have been in there for as long as he has He's about 5" long.

Is this a Humuhumu in the pic, it doesn't look like the Humuhumu (Picasso) in any of the books I have, and I cant find a pic of him to know for sure...

I feel like sh*t

[leebca]

I can only say that the typical Huma Huma. . .looks like this:
Google Image Result for http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/triggers/images/HumaTMTr1p165_med.jpg

I'm not up enough on my Triggers to do a perfect ID on the one pictured. It looks more like an Arabian Picasso Trigger, or Rhinecanthus assasi. I still don't that that is a perfect match, though.

[Firefish]

Thanks Lee-
My Trigger has a different pattern on him, a lot less colorful then the typical Humuhumu.
I thought I'd done enough reading on these two fishes, and it seemed to me a lot of people were keeping these fish together with no problems...
I thought I'd be fine especially since they are the only two aggressive fish (out of a total of 4) in a 150 gallon with plenty of lr... This fish seems to have the attitude of a fully grown Clown Trigger.

I wanted to add a six-line wrasse, but....

I feel like such a bad parent!

I'm curious as to how other people's Picasso triggers act to new fish in the tank...? Maybe I just have a real aggressive one.

[leebca]

I think you've been warned about Picasso fishes before. You posted these:

what are the rules for trigger fish???
and
what are the rules for trigger fish???

I though you already had a Picasso??

I think you'll find some posts about the Picasso in other threads. One is this:
Just an Idea

You may want to search more regarding their disposition. They can be and usually are very fierce and have a negative disposition.

[Firefish]

The Picasso I was referring to in my earlier posts is actually this Humuhumu (same thing I believe). I didn't really get any "don't do it" info, and as I read more about the Humuhumu being with other Trigger fish, the more it seemed ok... All the marine fish books I have say basically the same thing... A less aggressive, more peaceful trigger.

To quote "Marine Aquaria & The Miniature Reef" by Dr. C.W. Emmens- " Rhinecanthus aculeatus, The indo-pacific native also called the Picasso or it's native name, Humuhumunukunukuapuaa. Very pretty & non-aggressive."

I know there's reading material out there that contradicts that also.

Along with the 25-30 posts I've read from other Trigger owners on Reefland and other reef boards, it seemed like it would be ok... No one shared any experience like the one I had today though, not even close. I definitely would've thought twice before adding the Niger if someone had an experience like this one.
What really sucks is I was on the cuff on whether to buy the Wrasse or the Niger. I was leaning towards the Wrasse... But now I wonder if any fish I put in there would end in the same demise

It was a lesson learned, too bad a beautiful fish had to die though.

[leebca]

I wonder how many of these triggers Emmens actually kept? I've never known one to be 'non-aggressive' unless it was asleep or very young.

[Firefish]

I must've spent 3 hours last night reading about these trigger fish. I was up untill 12:30am
I read the link you sent me from Charlie's post "Just an idea". You are pretty much on the money when you say "garbage disposal mouths"
I spent some time studying my trigger... I always thought that the white "lips" were fleshy skin... it looks like the white part of his mouth is actually bone or rather cartilage, with teeth inside his mouth. Could this be right? This must be the loud sound I hear when he bites the glass (sounds like someone throwing a penny at a window).
I must've looked at dozens of photos last night and I couldn't find any with similar markings, with just two yellow stripes down the side of his body.
I'm just going to assume that it's a Picasso. One weird observation was, when he was attacking the Niger, those yellow stripes turned almost deep orange. It happens when I feed him whole shrimp and he attacks it. I think I'll call him a "Tiger" trigger seems more appropriate!

Lee, I was wondering if you have a "favorite" goto book on Marine fish and their behaviors...?
I think it's time I put Dr Emmens back on the shelf or give it to my 3 year old for the glossy pictures

[leebca]

I'm afraid it's what happens with books. The author has a 'picture' of things at the moment, but this hobby is very dynamic. I've seen so many changes over the decades. It's the primary reason that I not only don't have an interest in writing a book, but also don't have any interest in writing articles. Things change quickly in a hobby so scientifically based but with little scientific investigations in process.

The best book, in general, is Marine Fishes by Scott W. Michael. I've found it reliable and (for the most part--not all the time) accurate. Most other hardcopy publications are 'puff pieces' more than serious hobbyist guidance once they stray from the 'easy fish/hardy fish' recommendations.

The Trigger's mouth is mostly bone. Exceptionally powerful. Some of the most aggressive actions of these fish is that they will attack their own image in the aquarium wall.

[Firefish]

Wow, maybe that will explain why he keeps biting the glass

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll do an online search and update my marine library. The book I have is over 12 years old