Pink-tail trigger in a reef...

[Anonymous]

Hey folks,

Well after searching through our archives, I decided to post this question. I'm thinking of getting a pink-tail for my 180 reef. I have read plenty on people's experience with Nigers, but very little on pink-tail experiences. Am I the only person who thinks these triggers are cool??? Of course I looked it up in Michael's book, and it stated that it can be kept in a reef. I, of course, would worry about shrimp, but I lost my cleaner a few months back and really have no desire to put in any more shrimp (never see them is the big reason). So really the only "inverts" that would be in the tank would be snails/crabs, along with my host of softies, LPS, and SPS, as well as a bubbletip anemone. Does anyone have experience with the pink-tail? I know each fish has its own personallity, but I am just checking to get a few real life experiences before making my order for the PT. Thanks

 

[sslarison]

Well i had one in a fish only tank and judgeing by his personality i would say no. Not because there mean but because there so darn curious. they want to get into everything.(the way they get into things is by biting) not good for your corals you know.

 

[Ken2001]

Hey Pandor,

I've had a pinktail for about six months now in my 75 reef. I got him in anticipation that I'd be moving up to a 150 (which is currently sitting in my garage, waiting for setup). He's the fish with the most personality in the tank. I've never seen him bother shrimp (coral banded & peppermint), crabs, or snails. He occasionally spars with a yellow tang, but they never do damage to each other (apart from a couple of scratches on the Pinktail's flanks in the first couple of weeks). The only problem I have with the pinktail is that he's a pig, so he needs to eat a lot! If he's hungry, he starts moving rocks around. That becomes a problem when he starts moving rocks with frags around -- I've lost a few nice acropora frags when he dropped the rocks they were on onto the BTA or the Hydnophora. Now I've started to make sure the frags are on big rocks that he can't move around as easily. Anyway, I'd recommend a pinktail, which I think are really nice looking and have great personality, as long as you have the room, and don't have any really passive fish that would be irritated by a big fish that swimms all over the place, all the time.
Regards,

Ken

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input so far. I am not too concerned about him moving rocks around, and most of his tank-mates should be able to deal with his activity level, I was just worried about him munching on things he shouldn't. I am definitely in need of a fish with personallity and was originally looking at getting a larger tang, but became concerned because of disease possibilities and decided to look at the pink-tail. Of course with my luck I will get a "Clown trigger living in a Pink-tail's body".

 

[JonF1]

I'm curious about this as well. Would love to hear move feedback.

 

[turtlespd]

I have had one for a good 6 months and had no issues..before that i got him from a friend who had him for a good year...i had to give him away because he just eats too much..but yes reef safe,

Paul

 

[Anonymous]

Do they eat more than your average trigger?? I have no problem with a pig, but I'm just curious because so many seem to be saying they are major pigs.

 

[turtlespd]

Well, i have a powder blue tang and a purple tang. The pinktail was like a little dog. As soon as i open teh canopy he would wait for my hand to hit the water. I use to hand feed him all the time and i could even pet him. Triggers are really friendly but when food came into the picture he could swallow before the tangs can get a bite.

Paul

 

[reefraf1]

I had a pinktail in my reef for a while. Really well behaved until he started eating things First was alarge orange gorgonian. Completely shredded that. Then he picked on other things. Found him with a crab claw stuck to his lip one day!! Had to remove him from the tank to get it off LOL