advice about trigger for beginer

[trig]

I bought my first marine fish a few months back: a 5 inch rectangular trigger (Rhinecanthus rectangulus). He was in a LFS in a really small tank with only a sponge filter. They said they put him there cos he killed everything in the big tank. He has BIG personality which is what we liked about him and he's pretty. We have no intention of mixing him with other fish due to his history and he seems health and happy but we do need to improve his setup. Now he is in a 1m tank with external filter . We are prepared to provide him with what he needs for the long haul but every one has different ideas about what that is. I need advice from someone with personal experience. What does my trigger need?

 

[wrightme43]

Triggers need a protien skimmer of good quality, and rock work to hide in. Good water quality is very important. They are great fish and have like you said the neatest personality. Most seem to like chasing a lazer pointer and will play as long as you want to. They seem to like the excersize and if you feed them a little while doing it. They will learn quickly to associate it with food. Great fish by them selves. Steve

 

[spongebob lover]

hey Steve, how big the tank suppose to be for these fishes?

 

[wrightme43]

That is going to depend on what you can afford. A lot of people will throw out something like a 150 or 180. To me if it is the only fish in the tank and you give it lots of interaction so it does not think of everything as a threat or something to bully a 75 would be fine with good filtration and a good skimmer with live rock. I think and only my opinion that some fish really actually like being in the living room of a house, watching people and getting hand fed every day. A 125 would be awesome but thats alot of tank to dedicate to one fish. If it were me a 75 would be my choice with about 50 lbs of live rock a 20-or 30 sump and a g3 skimmer. A fuge would be a tremendous help as well.