Trigger not eating  - 09/07/06
Dear Bob Fenner:<Hey Bob is gone on a dive, lucky man so you get me today>
  I bought a Picasso triggerfish last Friday (9/1) and it's been 6 days but the Picasso triggerfish won't eat anything.
  I have tried to feed her the brine shrimp, the row shrimp, flake, krill shrimp, and even the rosey fish but I never see her eating anything.
  My current tank has candy anemone, crown fish, damsel fish, Chromis fish, coral bandy shrimp, hermit crab....and they are all doing good. <You don't mention how big the tank is, what the parameters are, how big the trigger is, how big the other fish are?  In my experience triggers can be a bit shy at first and will often hide or lock in and only come out when the tank gets dark. They will pick food off the bottom or coral or rock at this time. Is your trigger seeming to loose body mass? That is one way to tell for sure.>
  I should ask the PetCo people to feed the fish before I bought it. they told me it just arrive that day or day before. <I would definitely ask them if it ate anything there and if so what it was.>
  Any suggestion you can give is welcome <Good luck Sam and keep the faith, triggers get over this initial phase usually pretty quickly with patience time and the tank in good shape.>
      Sam

Picasso Trigger Won't Eat - 09/10/06
Dear Bob Fenner:
<<EricR at your service today...Bob's in Jamaica trying out all the new flavors of rum since his last visit>>
I bought a Picasso triggerfish last Friday (9/1) and it's been 6 days but the Picasso triggerfish won't eat anything.
<<Hmm...did you see it eat before you bought it?>>
I have tried to feed her the brine shrimp, the row shrimp, flake, krill shrimp, and even the rosey fish but I never seen she eating anything.
<<Those mostly a prophylactic treatment, you can try adding some Epsom salts to you system at a rate of one level-teaspoon per 10 gallons of actual water volume...and keep trying to feed the trigger>>
My current tank has candy anemone, clown fish, damsel fish, Chromis fish, coral banded shrimp, hermit crab....and they are all doing good.
<<If the trigger recovers/lives, the anemone, shrimp, and crab will all likely become "trigger food".  You really should spend a little time researching your purchases beforehand...and utilizing proper quarantine procedure>>   
I should ask the PetCo people to feed the fish before I bought it.
<<Indeed>>
They told me it just arrive that day or day before.  Any suggestion you can give is welcome.
Sam
<<About all you can do is keep trying to entice the trigger to feed (try soaking some thawed frozen mysis shrimp in Selcon for a few minutes before feeding)...and hopefully, learn from the experience.  Regards, EricR>>

Picasso and the food that bit back... Polychaetes   5/26/06
Hey there Crew,
<Dan-O>
I have a young Picasso Trigger that I fed a bristle worm to. Hungry (his name), went for it and the worm promptly disappeared into his belly. A week or so later, he developed a growth approx. where his chin would be and he doesn't seem to be able to open his mouth to take food. His appetite is the same as he goes for my fingers if they are too close to the tank and he will attack any food I put in the tank, but he can't seem to open his mouth to eat. He hasn't eaten in 10-14 days, so do you think it will go away on its own?
Thanks,
Danny
<I do hope so... is possible the worm feeding and this situation are related... the bristles from some polychaetes are very sharp, hurt like the Dickens to get stuck in ones hands (I can personally testify). I do hope your trigger self-repairs. Keep offering meaty food items every few days. Bob Fenner>

Trigger Feeding  12/17/05
Hi,
   <Howdy>
  I have a feeding question that was not directly answered in my searches.  I have a Picasso trigger that is about four inches in a 55 gal tank.
<... too small a world...>
He had some damsel buddies but he is now alone.  My question is how much and how often should I feed?
<Once, twice a day... more frequently, smaller amounts>
The reason I am asking is because anytime anyone passes within 5 feet of the tank or once it is dark outside, the trigger violently swims at the top front of the tank, back and forth for hours.
<Territorial... not for food directly>
In fact, lately it has been his activity half to 3/4 of the day.  He breaths hard doing this, and I am wondering if he is stressed.
<Good question>
  I don't know if I should be doing something different in how I feed.  I was feeding (krill and silversides) once in the morning and once at night when the actinic lights were on (which are timed to be on a hour before and an hour after the whites).  I try to increase it to three moderate portions, but the erratic swimming has worsened.  I drop the food in at the surface by the outflow of the protein skimmer, should I
do something different than that (use a feeding stick maybe)?  I don't see other triggers his size do this, so I am guessing it is something I am doing.  Any help you can provide would be helpful.  By the way, at last check pH and salinity were optimal, and I have a Remora skimmer, a Rena canister filter, with 2 powerheads and approx. 40-45 pounds of live rock.  I've had the trigger since July and he has been alone for 2 weeks.   
  JWA
<This fish/species needs more room... should be placed near last to avoid agonistic behavioral troubles... as you'll experience should you try placing something with it in the 55. Bob Fenner>

Re: Trigger Feeding  12/18/05
Thanks for the reply.  Here is my full story and maybe this will explain why I have him the 4" Picasso trigger in a 55 gallon tank).  My previous e-mail should be included.  I had two damsels and a lionfish in the tank before getting the Picasso trigger.  It was a "surprise birthday gift" from my visiting in-laws.  From what the LFS told them, and from what the "Marine Fishes" by Scott Michael said, they (my in-laws and wife) were under the impression that the trigger's minimum size tank is 55 gallons.
<At an absolute minimum... without other livestock...>
So that is how he arrived.  I questioned it because he was large, but because it was a birthday gift from in-laws and because I really wanted one(s smaller one that is), I took him. He actually did pretty well with the other fish, no troubles for three and a half months. However, after dealing with major temperature fluctuations, I lost the damsels and lionfish to what seemed to be stress related issues about three and a half months after the trigger arrived (no new additions to the
tank were made since trigger arrived).  The trigger was the only fish I saved (all fish were covered in white and it was definitely not ich, I and LFS could only guess "velvet" because of the temperature problems).  So that is why he is alone.  I am guessing the best approach would be to trade him in for maybe a smaller Picasso, because I do intend on buying a bigger tank, but not right now (I'm in school and will be graduating next year).  From my research, I hear Picasso triggers grow slower so this can be done, right?
<Yes>
However, I believe I need to get whatever other additions in before adding a small trigger.  I was trying to set up a fish-only "predator" tank that maybe can be transferred later from a 55 gal. to something bigger.  I am sorry this is so long, I just want to do the right thing for the trigger and for future additions to the tank.  
  Thanks,   
  JWA
<Do consider means of making your water quality "self-regulating"... particularly pH, alkalinity... Predatory organisms in small volumes have a habit of mal-affecting their own habitat... Bob Fenner>

Picasso Trigger Diet
Hi Bob and its great to be able to correspond with you again. I recently purchased a 4" Picasso trigger for my 90g FO tank. He is getting along famously with his tankmates, a 3" Hippo Tang, a 2" Yellow Tang, a 2" Flame Angel and 2 small damsels. My question is about the Picasso's diet. I think he is a great specimen, both beautiful and with a great personality and I want him to thrive. Right now he only seems interested in eating whole prawns, which is what he was being fed at the LFS. I feed the other tank inhabitants daily with frozen Formula 1 and 2 (evening), Formula 1 & 2 flakes (morning) and Seaweed Selects. He does not seem interested in these at all. I am soaking his prawns in Selcon, but I am still fearful that he may not be receiving the proper nutrition. Any thoughts you might have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
<Ah, I share your concern re keeping your Rhinecanthus trigger healthy, vibrantly colorful (as in the wild)... good to be guarded about a fish developing a single food item as a solitary diet, even though vitamin soaked. Would start weaning it away by mixing some other foods in with the prawn... then leave off offering the prawn for a day or two (the Trigger won't starve as you know), inducing it to feed on other materials. Most anything meaty, prepared (like the Formula foods or your own mix) will do. Also, though this tank is Fish Only, do place some live rock here... no better way to assure, provide a steady, complete (nutritionally) diet. Be chatting. Bob Fenner>

Picasso Questions
Bob
I have read a lot of the FAQ's concerning the Picasso Trigger and I have a couple of questions.
1. How does one train them to eat from your hand? I would like to start this as he is only about 2 inches long and I thought this would be a good time to start it.
<Take the food between your fingers and hold it at the top of the aquarium. At first, your fish will not feed from your fingers, but will come up to investigate. When he does come up, let go of the food. Eventually he will become braver and eat right from your hands.>
2. Will a Picasso get along well with a Hippo Tang, Yellow tang, and a bicolor blenny when he gets older?
<Not notoriously aggressive as some other triggers, so it should be ok. The two Tangs will probably not like one another, though.>
3. Lastly what is a good diet to give him to keep his colors so bright? I have him on Brine shrimp, Krill, squid, and mussel.
<I would finish whatever Brine Shrimp you have and then not buy any more. The other are good. I would add some O.N. Formula II (primarily for the tangs, but good for the Trigger too) and Trigger Formula (which has some sea urchin in it).>
Thanks for your time and your responses helped me out a lot. Darren
<You are welcome. -Steven Pro>

Picasso Trigger/Stars & Stripes Puffer
Hello to whomever may be working tonight! <<It's JasonC today, greetings.>> Here's a little story, with some questions at the end. I brought home a Stars & Stripes puffer tonight (3 inches), and acclimated him into my tank that currently contains Gordon (my 1.5-inch Picasso Trigger) and a random blue damsel I can't catch to get rid of. I was worried that Gordon would pick on him even though he's never bothered the damsel. The puffer settles himself in, and within a few minutes he's sticking his mouth into rock crevices and darting forward (trying to munch on something in there, I'm sure). Now here's the strange part: Gordon eyes him warily for about 15 minutes, then slowly swims up to him. Then, to my horror, he bites the puffer! But I soon realize it's not a hard bite, as the puffer doesn't even move. It's more like little nibbles, almost like what kissing gouramis do to the glass when they're alone ;-) And it gets stranger. Gordon shadows the puffer around, and the next time the puffer does the munchin' in the rocks bit, Gordon's right alongside him, doing the same thing. He's never showed any interest in the rocks before, except to occasionally rearrange them. So what's going on? <<My take on this is - and you should know that both these fish are pretty smart as fish go - is that the trigger realizes the puffer might reveal something tasty with its digging, and so the puffer is just standing by to see if this is the case. From time to time, something appears and it takes a taste.>> It's this a weird case of inter-species puppy love? <<I don't think so.>> Or was Gordon just getting a taste to decide if the puffer is edible? <<Less possible than the other explanation - again, because these fish are smart, the trigger probably knows already that puffers aren't good eating.>> Thanks in advance!
Jodie
<<Cheers, J -- >>

Trigger and Puffer II
Hi Bob,
<Actually, this time and last time, you were "talking" to Steven Pro, one of the WWM crew members.>
I realize that feeder goldfish isn't a natural food source for my Huma and trigger, however, will that somehow affect their health?
<Yes, will be bad for their health. You can read more about it here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/goldfshfd.htm>
I thought I was doing the right thing by feeding them live food versus frozen food.
<Much easier to meet their dietary requirements with frozen foods.>
I also occasionally feed them thawed mussels, shrimps, squid, and other marine variety seafood but it seemed to me that it was giving my puffer indigestion problems. Don't get me wrong, he'll eat anything, except for formula food.
<Those are all good foods.>
Another dumb thing that I did though was I threw in a freshwater crayfish.
<Not dumb at all. Generally needed for the trigger and to a greater extent the puffer to wear down their teeth.>
I'd read somewhere that it was good for the Huma to eat hard-shelled things to sharpen their teeth. My puffer ate most of the hard shell and had very bad indigestion for a couple days. I even though he was going to die cause he would float on his side! He's much better now and recovered.
<A very strange occurrence, perhaps unrelated to eating the crayfish.>
It seems that you're suggesting feeding them mostly frozen food as I've been doing above all the time. Anything live that I can buy occasionally that they'll like?
<Ghost shrimp that have been acclimated to full strength seawater and fed a well round diet of marine origin are ok, but really not necessary.>
Thanks for the reply. ~May
<You are welcome. -Steven Pro>

Trigger and Puffer
Hi Bob,
<Steven Pro this evening.>
I have a 75g tank with a 4-5 inch Huma Huma trigger, a 4-5 inch stars n stripes puffer, a clown and 2 damsels. The Huma was the last fish that I introduced in the tank. In the beginning (for the first two months or so) everything seemed fine. I'd feed my Huma and puffer 1 large feeder and they'd both share it.
<By feeder, I assume you mean feeder goldfish, an absolutely horrible food for any marine fish. Please try to wean both onto foods of saltwater origin. Frozen krill, clam, mussels, and mixed "formula" foods would all be good.>
In fact my puffer got lazier and didn't even bother to go for the kill anymore. He'd let the Huma chase the feeder and then would join in on the feast afterwards. I'm wondering if this is normal. Even with the feeder swimming right by him would not cause the puffer to do anything.
<Maybe he realized the goldfish was bad for him (a little joke to amuse myself).>
Another concern is that now my Huma is really getting mean and has started to bite my puffer whenever he approaches the dead feeder Huma is feeding on. I suppose it could be because my puffer usually takes huge bites and can swallow almost the whole feeder, leaving Huma with nothing. I don't know what to do to stop the Huma from attacking my puffer who is really shy.
<Putting them in separate tanks would surely work. Also, try to feed them a little more and at different ends of the tank.>
Thanks, May
<Have a nice evening. -Steven Pro>

Crunch and Munch (Feeding a Trigger Fish)
Hello crew
<Hey there, Scott F. here with you this evening>
I was wondering if the Picasso would eat the frozen brine shrimp sold at fish shops or if it would be best to feed live brine? Also, do they eat turbo snails or any other 'cleaners'?
<The Picasso trigger will certainly eat frozen and live brine shrimp, however, that's like you living on a diet of three musketeers. They certainly tasty, but they do not do a whole lot in nutrition. Brine shrimp does not offer a high nutritive value.  It's an excellent supplemental food, but should not be the basis of his diet.  Rather, I would feed this guy high quality frozen food such as Mysis, krill, chopped squids, clam, etc.  And yes, he will definitely eat snails and probably munch on your hermit crabs too.  Other than the fact that he will eat everything that goes in your tank, including your fingers, will rearrange your decor, dig in your sand, and tear the place up, he is a great fish.  Enjoy him!>
Thanks for your time
<Thanks for stopping in!>

Picasso Running Scared? (9/6/04)
Hi, <Hello. Steve Allen here.>
I would like to ask your crew a question regarding my Picasso trigger. He or she has been a hardy specimen for some time now. I recently added two puffers to his tank which already had a clown. He (the Picasso) quickly asserted himself as alpha male within minutes. They have been getting along <or putting up with one another> now for some time (a couple of weeks maybe).  I have always fed him from my hand and he has always been a good eater. <Haven't been bitten yet, eh? Can happen & hurts.> The two puffers have also been eating from my hand also, especially the porcupine.
This last Saturday, I got up to feed them, a little later than normal, and found the Picasso hiding in the coral he normally sleeps in and the dog face puffer had changed color. They both have not responded to my feeding. The porcupine is still eating well but I can't get the Picasso out of his hiding place. He now has started coming out very slowly and does not eat well. He will NOT eat from my hand anymore.  He also stays in his hiding place all day long. He has hardly eaten anything.  The dog face is starting to eat again from my hand and is starting to be himself again. Except today the dog face blew himself up for no apparent reason. I am concerned about this behavior from my Picasso, this is not how he used to act. I am planning on buying a new tank next week for all the other fish except the Picasso. <A big one, I hope. These puffers will grow to over 10" and will need plenty of room.> I read that these triggers can be a little aggressive as they age. <Not as bad as Clowns, but all Triggers get more aggressive as they grow/age.>  Will this behavior end soon and what do you suppose happened. <Hard to say, but it sounds as if they may have had a nasty tussle.> I have a 60 gal. tank and all chemistry is excellent. The new tank I am buying will be 120 gal. <Good>  Any help would be greatly appreciated. <How big/old the Trigger? You may need to house it in quarantine while getting the Puffers into your new tank. Keep an eye out for any symptoms suggesting infectious our toxic ailments as well. It does seem to me that the solution here is separation.> Thanks, Mike Jamison <You're welcome. Good luck.>