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Balistapus undulatus
(Green trigger)
One of the most beautiful and most
aggressive marine fish. Also named the green trigger or
undulated trigger this fish will terrorize any tank and will
eat any fish, coral or invertebrate it can swallow. Not to
be kept with peaceful or small pieces or reef tanks. Grows
to an impressive 30 cm in nature although it will not reach
more than 20 cm in captivity (25 in really big tanks.
Intolerant of its own species as well as most other triggers. One of the hardiest species, it can be even used
for cycling the tank. The striking coloration makes it a
centerpiece in marine (usually fish only) tanks. It is
better to add it last in the tank - allowing more than
enough time for the other fish to settle. I feel that
Bob Fenner's comments on this species describe this situation
far better.
About
the only downside of balistid keeping, and it’s a big one is
there overt, and at times agonistic personalities.
Everyone
has favorite stories to tell about these fishes. The
"cute" spitting Clown Trigger that bit the bejeesus
out of someone’s finger. The big Undulatus that moved all
the gravel and rock around the tank, pulled up the undergravel
filter risers, then committed hara-kiri by smashing the
aquarium heater against the tanks side. The Niger that spends
all its spare time "locked in" with its trigger,
upside-down!
Yes,
these fishes ARE characters, and if anything else universal
can be stated about them: they’re individualistic. Some
members of the same species can be kept in very peaceful
surroundings. I’ve seen some housed in full-blown reef
systems. Other specimens of the same species can be unholy
terrors, outright consuming any real or potential "tankmates".
As
alluded to above, most Triggerfish species offered in the
trade rank the highest score (a 1) in my book in terms of
aquarium survivability. This is of course given a few,
actually two provisos: One, that you secure initially healthy
specimens (usually no problem), and two, that they are
procured at a reasonably small (but not too tiny) size. For
most species the latter practical range is a few to a handful
of inches in total length. All triggers are wild collected,
and most of only an inch or so to start will do all right, but
the two to five inchers are more sure-fire for adapting to
captive conditions."
With
the permission of Robert (Bob) Fenner webmaster of WetWebMedia
(bobfenner@aol.com)
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