Undulated Trigger
Hi,
I have read about the rogue (Balistapus undulatus, or the undulated trigger).  I would like what is the minimum tank size for 1 of these without other fish, corals and invertebrates. Will use LR, Seio M620. 
<Since you've read about them, then you are aware they can grow up to one foot in a closed system. Keeping it alone, I would go with no smaller than a 70 for starters. James (Salty Dog)> 

Trigger Tank Size (5/15/05)
70 gallons I suppose? If that is the case. I have to return to the LFS. Thanks 
<An Undulated Trigger (or any other fish that attains a foot or more in length) really ought to be in a tank of six feet or longer. The minimum size I'd suggest for an adult is 120 gallons. That said, Triggers are fairly slow growing fish, so I could be OK in 75 Gallons or so for a few years. Hope this helps, Steve Allen.> 

- Undulated Trigger Colors -
Hello I was just wondering if you could tell me if there is any visual difference between an undulated trigger from the Red Sea as opposed to one from the Indian ocean. 
<Hmm... have seen color differentiation in these - typically in the stripes, from yellow to red to orange, but not consistently based on their geographic origin and even then can vary depending on the mood of the trigger. Would expect both Red Sea and Indian Ocean Undulated triggers to have more reddish-orange stripes.
Cheers, J -- > 

Undulated Trigger - When Will it Get Aggressive?
Hello, I got a 3 or 4 inch undulated trigger about a week ago and was just wondering why he hides all the time. From what I hear they are supposed to be really mean and not shy. He is the only fish in my 55 gallon tank. It used to be a reef and still have some shrooms, snails and crabs in there and he hasn't even acknowledged that that stuff is in there. When I drop a silverside in there he swims out of his cave grabs the fish and eats it in his cave. Just wondering if I got a shy one or if it just takes some time for him to not be so shy. Oh and by the way my water is perfect and he is not breathing hard at all. 
<Patience Doug, the name of the game. He's eating, good. I haven't saw my watchman goby until about a week and a half after I got him. James (Salty Dog)> 

Undulated Trigger Fish Shows No "Mean" - II
Thanks for the fast reply!! Just hope that he doesn't turn out to be a shy fish because I gave up a lot of neat "reef" fish because I wanted an aggressive tank. I talked to one guy at my live fish store and he said that undulateds are known for hiding and being shy when first introduced into the home aquarium. Have you ever heard that about them? If so do you have any idea on how long this will take? I am trying to be as patient as I can.
<Doug, I've never heard of them being shy. They are as mean as a mother-in-law on a bad visit, probably the most aggressive of all triggers. James (Salty Dog)>

Undulatus - Justin's Take - IIa
Thanks for the fast reply!!
<Justin Here>
Just hope that he doesn't turn out to be a shy fish because I gave up a lot of neat "reef" fish because I wanted an aggressive tank. I talked to one guy at my live fish store and he said that undulated's are known for hiding and being shy when first introduced into the home aquarium. 
<This depends entirely on the personality of the fish. I have personally been bitten, smacked and even scratched by one very small 1.5" undulated trigger while trying to feed and later catch it. I have also seen the same fish take 6-8" groupers head on for food and space and win, as well as most other aggressive fish in its tank. I definitely rate them in the trigger family in the middle to the top as far as possibility for aggression.> 
Have you ever heard that about them? If so do you have any idea on how long this will take?
<Find one that is very active and after he/she is acclimated then you will see them become the ruler of the tank as long as a more aggressive fish isn't apparent. Mostly Females are more cranky then their male counterparts, though I do not know how to sex them, I've just seen a female birthing in a tank then a few weeks later after removing the mother to a new tank, watching it chase everything out of the tank including the divers.> 
I am trying to be as patient as I can. 
<Don't worry this fish can be a holy terror at times if provoked. A great aggressive tank fish, though don't mix with other triggers usually, or anything that isn't as aggressive as it, and add it last to your tank as it will pick on any new arrivals to the tank.>
thanks again
<Justin (Jager)> 

Dedicated Undulated trigger keeper
A few questions for you if you would be so kind. I've been keeping fish
for a very long time, and for years I've been toying with the idea of a
dedicated undulatus tank. I had one for about 15 minutes, years ago. He
was 3", and 30 seconds after hitting the water in the tank he proceeded
to attack a 16" Queensland grouper. :) They are one of my favorite fish
of all time, so I'm thinking of finally giving up some space to keep
one.
Anyway, this tank will be a dedicated 120 gallon.
  My questions are as follows
1. How would you characterize their growth rate? Ultra slow like a Huma
Huma? Or faster like a clown? Faster still like a niger?
<More like a Humu or other "Lagoon" trigger... slow and steady>
2.  Are they sexually dimorphic? Do the males or females get larger?
<Not sexually dimorphic, though I swear they are dichromic when larger, in good health... males are more "bright", and for specimens further into the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, more colorfully marked>
3. I'm looking for a Red Sea specimen, what are the telling chromatic
differences between that and the other localities?
<Much lighter in body color and the red vermiculations on the head much more prominent and wavy... especially under the jaw>
Thanks for any help. I don't want to purchase a 3" specimen, and 2 years
later only have a 5" specimen. I want a nice show animal in a few years.
(Just because I'm an "expert" doesn't mean I'm always patient) If they
are slow growers I'll be sure and start with at least a 5" individual.
I've been doing my best to help out on your site, answering what
questions I can. Great site! I've been keeping marine aquaria for 20
years, and I enjoy educating others on the subject. It feels oddly nice
to ASK a question, I don't get to very often. :)
<Do you have time to respond to queries here? Interest? Bob Fenner>

More on undulated trigger, helping on WWM
Thanks so much for the reply Bob!
Hmmm...Huma Huma growth speed. In my experience you're lucky to have a
7" Huma Huma in 5 or 6 years if you start with a little guy. While I
count that as a big plus for that fish when a keeper wants to put one in
a 55 gallon tank, it stinks for the person with space wanting a show
fish. :)
Looks like I need a 5" Red Sea male undulatus. I forget off the top of
my head, are the males the ones with or without stripes on the snout?
<With... at least with more>
Would this difference be apparent already in a 5" fish?
<Should be, yes>
I definitely have time, and would be interested in answering queries on
your site. :) I'm a dyed in the wool fish geek. I can also answer
freshwater questions, as I spent years keeping and breeding African,
Central and South American cichlids.
<Ahh! Would you please send a brief bio... something I can share with the existing WWM Crew, post for the public, re your experiences, abilities and desires? Thank you for your interest. Bob Fenner>
Cheers
Jim