How fast do Triggers grow?

[Popeye]

I have a 50 gallon tank that is just about done cycling. I am seriuosly thinking of keeping one fish in it. The Undulate Trigger. I was wondering just how fast do these fish grow?

[Toadfish]

The pace at which you feed it will determine growth rate. Undulate Trigger gets a max of 12 inches. I would say that if you limit it's feedings to every other day and keep the water temp at or below 78, then it will probably grow half that size in its entire life. 6-8 inches would be fine for a 55g, especially if it is the only fish.

[beach bum]

I think a healthy fish is more important than attempting to stunt it's growth through starvation. Triggers grow slowly among aggressives, compared to lions, groupers, puffers, eels, sharks, etc... and the undulated even more slowly, even with frequent feedings you can expect a good 2-3 years out of that 50g tank. A 75g would be a fine lifetime size tank for one. They are not big swimmers and are pretty much homebodies in their little nooks and crannies, hence they're ability to be housed in smaller tank. A picasso, for comparison, reaches only slightly larger proportions, but is a much more active swimmer and would need a 100g minimum as an adult.

good luck,
bb

[Toadfish]

I don't see how feeding every other day is starvation or stunting growth...not only does it cut down on the bioload but since the fish does not have access to open swimming space(as it does in the wild) it will stay healthier and not become obesse. Limited feeding are almost a must in a closed environment. In addition the minimum recomended size tank for an Undulated according to Scott Michael is a 55g.

[Popeye]

Thanks for the replies......heading out today to get my Trigger.

[fatcat9798]

I' ve had this huma huma for 4 months and it's still only about 4" or so.

[salt creepette]

ive had my trigger for four months and he is only maybe a 1/4 inch bigger than when i got him. he's tubby, but not growing terribly fast. of course i have to admit, although he gets fed twice daily, its mostly flake or frozen brine. I get to go to the store today and get ingredients to make Robert Fenner's Wonderful Marine Mash though! fun in the kitchen all day long....(basically blending shrimp mollusk etc, sea weed, gelatin and liquid vitamins together and freezing on a sheet of wax paper or in a ball, and shaving some off to feed each day.) that ought to make my Niger Trigger (odonus niger) grow big and strong! good luck with yours, be sure to post a pic!

[Popeye]

I have had mine for about 5 months now. He has grown about a half inch at least. I feed him frozen shrimp,krill,flake,squid,pellets,chopped fish,and pieces of smelt. I just ordered a Undulate Trigger for my new 50 gallon.

[beach bum]

I would say that if you limit it's feedings to every other day and keep the water temp at or below 78, then it will probably grow half that size in its entire life

If that is not advocating intentional stunting of it's growth I don't know what is.

Daily feedings don't have to be huge, but I have always had better luck with daily feedings, usually once - twice a day.

Limited feeding are almost a must in a closed environment.

I agree, but not on the grounds of: "My tank is too small, how can I keep this fish anyway?" That skirts the problem at best.

And of course, my personal favorite:

In addition the minimum recomended size tank for an Undulated according to Scott Michael is a 55g.

The illustrious Mr. Michaels also suggests a 55g minimum for a Volitans Lionfish, not to mention other odd inclusions such as giving a green moray a "5" on the aquarium suitability scale.

Sorry if I'm coming across touchy, but sometimes good practice gets overlooked for incidental necessity and I hate to see that happen. It is good for you if you like to keep fish small by feeding them less, but these aren't algae grazing reef critters here, undulates are full-tilt carnivores with beefy appetites when healthy. My personal experience having owned two in the past is that they a) grow slowly regardless and b) need a 75g min. as full grown adults.

Just one more thing about that, then I'll shut up, Considering that this will probably be the only fish in the tank, I doubt polluted water would result from frequent feedings of that ONE fish.

bb

[Doug1]

Most carnivores are prolly used to feast or famine depending on the available prey in their natural habitat. Lionfish I know are not active predators, more into patient ambush and getting as big a meal as they can, then going a while before the next meal.
Tangs on the other hand are predominatly grazers that eat pretty much all the time. Most are pretty active and expend a lot of energy in their search for food.
I suspect that triggers on the whole fall somewhere in between the to ends of the spectrum.
Does anyone have any info on triggers feeding in the wild, what they prey on, areas they hunt, etc?

[beach bum]

food items

apparently it will eat anything but the kitchen sink... I imagine it not to be a gorge/fast type of eater like lions and eels, but wadda I know? Sorry if I came across negative, 'twas not my intention, happy trigger-keeping all!

bb