Trigger fish breeding habits... no... toxic situation    4/27/08
Hello, a quick question. I have a 125g reef tank that has 1 purple tang, 1 coral beauty, 1 niger trigger (3"), and 1 blue jaw trigger, female (3"). All have been in my tank for at least 1 yr if not more, and get along well. They used to be real hogs when feeding time came around. About 4 weeks ago, I noticed that there was alot
<No such word>
of sand kicked up around some offset rocks, then the triggers disappeared. The other fish have now become skittish, and I can see the triggers hiding underneath the rocks where they moved out the sand. They (the triggers) don't come out at feeding, nor any other time. The coral beauty and tang are fine, but really skittish now. Water parameters are excellent, as the reef continues to flourish. Can the triggers be mating/guarding eggs?
<Mmm, no>
Has it ever been heard of this type of cross breeding in captivity or otherwise? I am trying to figure out how to get my 2 favorite fish out in the open again. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Long time fan,
many thanks in advance... Erick.
<Something is amiss here... likely chemically with your water... I'd be checking all, cleaning your skimmer, doing the obligatory water change... possibly using a bit of activated carbon in your flow-path... And mixing up a bunch of salt mix for later changes if you can't discern the source of trouble here. Please read:
http://wetwebmedia.com/mardisindex.htm
the third tray down: "Toxic..."
Bob Fenner>

Xanthichthys auromarginatus, repro.   4/25/08
Hello and good morning. I have been searching for info regarding breeding habits of Xanthichthys auromarginatus. All I have found so far is nothing. Could you point me in the direction of anything that discusses their breeding habits, be it in the wild or captivity.
Thank you very much,
Mike Nance a.k.a. Reefmike - DFWMAS
<Hi Mike... don't know that there is much to state re the genus reproductive behavior (some spawn in deep water...), most are bentho-pelagic... live in the upper/mid water column in deep/er water... Have seen this species making spawning nests, though... in Hawai'i... So I suspect it is a/the usual balistid pattern of male nest building, attracting females, poly-mating, guarding the eggs... till hatch out... Bob Fenner>

Re: Xanthichthys auromarginatus, repro.   4/26/08
Thank you very much for the reply. It is greatly appreciated!
Could you describe the nest building that you saw (materials, location, etc.)?
<... sandy bottom, about 40-60 feet in general... individual males digging a smoothed out pan/area of a couple feet diameter, swimming up/down apparently trying to attract females>
If you decided to attempt breeding a pair what would you do as far as set-up (tank size, substrate, rock, etc.)?
<The larger the better... hundreds of gallons... some mixed rock, sand areas... not too many other species of fishes mixed in...>
Sincerest thanks,
Mike Nance a.k.a. Reefmike - DFWMAS
<BobF>

Query - Queen Triggerfish Nesting in the Wild? 8/1/07
Hi,
<Hello there>
I'm doing some research for a species profile of the Queen Triggerfish and I'm finding it very difficult to locate information about their breeding strategy in the wild, for this specific species.
<Mmm, I have a scar on my right wrist from a Balistes vetula incident...>
I have Googled from here until kingdom come but come up only with breeding habits of other triggerfish such as Titans! I am of the opinion that it's not safe to assume one member of a genus behaves exactly like the others, so I was wondering if I could get your input... are Queen Triggers demersal substrate spawners that use sand nests like most other triggerfish?
<This is correct>
Or is the subject of their breeding habits completely unknown?
<Not unknown...>
On this page of your FAQs
(http://www.wetwebmedia.com/queentrigfaqs.htm), "Bob F" mentions having come across a Queen Trigger nesting area while diving, resulting in a nasty bite, can he kindly describe for me in a little more detail whether he actually saw a nest?
<I did and have on other occasions>
Was it a depression in the sand?
<Yes>
Does he or anyone else at WWM have any other personal accounts of what looks like breeding behaviour of these fish in the wild?
<Apparent males guard... attract more than one female... depressions are about a half meter in diameter (larger with larger spawners)... territories at least ten meters in diameter...>
This is the only snippet of information I have come across on he web of a person actually seeing a QUEEN Trigger (and not some other trigger) defending a nest, so I really appreciate your valuable input!
All the best,
Natascia Tamburello
<There are some "book" accounts of this species reproductive behavior... A computer search bibliography ought to turn up the authors, works... Bob Fenner, out, away from his library. See the names Ron Thresher (Reproduction in Reef Fishes) and Robert P.L. Straughan>

Re: Query - Queen Triggerfish Nesting in the Wild? – 08/01/07
Hi there,
<Natascia>
Thanks so much for your response, very helpful! While R.E.Thresher's book didn't have any additional info on Balistes vetula in particular I'll try RPL Straughan. Thanks again, best information I've gotten on this subject yet!
- Natascia
<Ah, real good. Bob Fenner, missing his books>

Mating of the Sargassum and Crosshatch Trigger   10/2/06
We Have a Sargassum Trigger (Which we thought to have been a male  because of the red tail.) The past week our Crosshatch has been acting  strange, digging out sand from the bottom of the tank and losing all of his  colors for about 2-5 minutes then getting it back. Today we noticed that the  Sargassum's lower stomach is huge and the opening which I believe are where  the eggs come out is dilated (white around it like tearing). Is there a  possibility that the Sargassum that we thought was a male is pregnant and  actually a female.
<Yes>
Can't find out much information on the Sargassum sex or how  long they carry their eggs.
Please Help
Penny
<Need to visit a large/College library for such information (if it exists!): http://www.wetwebmedia.com/litsrchart.htm
Does read like spawning behavior... Bob Fenner>

I have a Huma Huma about 4 inches  long. how do I tell the  sex?  7/18/06
<Can't be discerned externally. Some balistid species demonstrate sexual dichromatism, dimorphism... not Rhinecanthus spp. Bob Fenner>

Spawning, raising Xanthichthys triggers    6/4/06
Hi Guys,
<And Gals...>
First, I attended IMAC this year and will certainly be attending next year.
<Hotay!>
We have a pair of Crosshatch Triggers in our display tank for 6 months or so.
Both fish are 7-8 inches.
<Gorgeous animals... need space... which evidently you have>
The tank is a 10ft 400g mixed reef w/100g sump. The triggers mix well with the community. They are fed a variety of fresh seafood, Racemosa macro-algae, and algae-based pellets/flake....Our LFS is located in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, so fresh seafood is always available from local fishermen.
<Nice!>
A month after they were introduced it seemed courting was in progress.
<Almost constantly so in the wild... live in nearly pelagic schools/shoals...>
I tried to find information on these fish to no avail. Every 2 weeks (approx.) the female gets very aggressive toward tank-mates. She chooses an open area and makes a pit. The male is very interested, and helps her with the sand blowing. I was lucky enough to see them spawn one evening, the male bit the side of her belly (left a bite mark), and...what seemed to be an egg mass spewed out.
<!>
This happened in the water column so I assumed they were broadcast spawners.
<Mmm, this would be my guess... though other balistid species are nest spawners with males guarding solo...>
Then, on the next spawn.... so much for the assumption...she dropped the eggs in the pit (very carefully). The male made many passes with his belly on the sand. She tended to the pit for the next 2 days with lots of pectoral fin fanning... or so it seemed, and then lost interest. The following day, the pit was crawling with Nassarius Snails and hermit crabs. I'm thinking on the next spawn, if she leaves the pit unattended, I will siphon the sand into a larval tank that I use for Clownfish. Do you have any suggestions?        
<Start studying re the culture, preparation of foodstuffs... and about larval rearing systems... need flow... gentle, overflow of water excluding young... Perhaps the author/name of Frank Hoff to start... Bob Fenner>      

Sex change of Bluethroat Trigger...  10/20/05
Hi WWM, I am writing to ask about the chances of sex change in Bluethroat Trigger...
<Just saw a nice male yesterday... diving at the end of the Old Airport Rd. north of Kona... Sabrina and I (and the Russells today) are visiting out in Hawai'i>
Do you have any idea whether will they go through sex change like Clownfish and Anthias if there is two of the same sex... Or they don't experience sex change...
<As far as am aware tetraodontiform fishes don't change sex... may be "juvenile colored/marked", and just "changing" into their/its determinate sex>
I have two male Bluethroat with me now... No aggression so far, so if they are able to change sex... I would just leave them alone... Would there be any long term problem if there are two males...
<Likely so... better to separate, trade one in>
Thanks in advance..
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Sexing Queen Triggerfishes? 2/17/05
How can you determine the sex of a Queen Trigger?  Thank You
<I'm not aware of any reliable dimorphism, although we can tell you that these fishes are not hermaphrodites. Perhaps do some searches in the academic archives at: http://scholar.google.com/  kindly, Anthony>

Sexing Picassos
Hello Bob
<Dan>
This is the first time visiting this site and so far very impressed.  I have learned many new things about my Picasso triggerfish and ways of treating problems should they arise.  I do have one questions for you.  Can you visibly tell a male trigger from a female? This has just been something I've wondered about for some time. Thank you
Dan
<Some species of triggers are distinguishable on sight, but I am not aware of any external differing characteristics by sex in Rhinecanthus. Bob Fenner>

Clown Trigger Pairs?
Hello WWM crew, hope everything is well with you.
Bob and Anthony, I saw you both at IMAC and was very informed and entertained
with your presentations. You both are doing wonders for the hobby. Here are
my questions:
I have a 10" Clown trigger I have had for many years, and it is the family
pet. It is in a 250 gallon aquarium with a few other fish. My question is have
you seen many people ever keep them in pairs, especially at larger sizes?
<Not I... in captivity or the wild. They must "get together" some time... but every time I've seen two near each other one was fleeing or they were fighting>
I
have seen it once before in the 18 years I have been in the hobby, but always
thought they may have been collected together. Sometimes I use a mirror on one
side of the aquarium to give my fish some stimulus, and the Clown trigger will
sit in front of the mirror and orient its body vertically in front of it and
sometimes almost upside down. The Clown never acts aggressively towards its
reflection and seems to enjoy it. If I move the mirror it will follow it. Do you
think it may be possible to add another Clown trigger to the aquarium?
<Doubtful>
I know
it is risky, especially with the unknown behavior of a possible new trigger,
but do you think I would be nuts to try?
<Not qualified to render an opinion re your mental state, but I would at least have other quarters nearby and only do this when I could be present for the first few hours... Our old company fabricated acrylic plus other materials systems, some quite large (tens of thousands of gallons) and at times tried to put in more than one Clown Trigger... with WW III eventually breaking out>
Over the years I have read everything
under the sun about triggers, but do you know of any sexual dichromatism or
dimorphism (I know I'm reaching here)  for Clown triggers?
<Not for this balistid, but you know there are ones that are quite different sexually>
  I am determined to
find out. Any references would be welcome.
Thank you.
ps. When should we expect another book from you guys?  
<Perhaps another half year from now... it looks like we'll have to divide the reef fishes into two volumes. Bob Fenner>