Trigger Growth-Rate/Compatibility - 11/12/06
Hello to all at WWM,
<<Greetings>>
I just have a small query regarding triggerfish.
<<Alrighty>>
In your opinion, which triggers are the fastest and slowest growers?
<<Hmm, good question...they "all" seem to be rather slow growers in my estimation>>
You may even be able to help me out with my decisions.
<<I'll try>>
I am just about finished cycling my tank, it's been about 5 weeks. I'm really into the prospect of having triggers.
<<I hope this is a large tank>>
Could you recommend two triggers that I'm likely to have the most success keeping together?
<<If this tank is 125-gallons or larger, you may have luck with Rhinecanthus species and/or Xanthichthys species.  I recommend choosing two differing species and introducing the pair (whichever you decide upon) to the tank as small specimens, and at the same time>>
I only want to keep two fish and that would mean the two triggers together.  The tank has a number of sufficient hiding spots, so they both would have their own "turf".  Thank you in advance for any suggestions!
Jarryd
<<Quite welcome.  EricR>>

Mating of the Sargassum and Crosshatch Trigger   10/2/06
We Have a Sargassum Trigger (Which we thought to have been a male  because of the red tail.) The past week our Crosshatch has been acting  strange, digging out sand from the bottom of the tank and losing all of his  colors for about 2-5 minutes then getting it back. Today we noticed that the  Sargassum's lower stomach is huge and the opening which I believe are where  the eggs come out is dilated (white around it like tearing). Is there a  possibility that the Sargassum that we thought was a male is pregnant and  actually a female.
<Yes>
Can't find out much information on the Sargassum sex or how  long they carry their eggs.
Please Help
Penny
<Need to visit a large/College library for such information (if it exists!): http://www.wetwebmedia.com/litsrchart.htm
Does read like spawning behavior... Bob Fenner>

Questionable Aquarium Service...Trying To Do What's Needed - 09/22/06
Dear Wet Web Crew,
<<Hello>>
My employer has a beautiful 200-gallon salt-water tank, and has a tank service that comes in and cares for this tank.
<<Ok>>
I have a serious lack of confidence in this company because I did a little research on your site and they have made many really bad mistakes.
<<Some do yes, but doesn't mean this one is "bad".  Have you been able to talk to other/previous customers of this company?  Have they done anything to make you feel uncomfortable with their level of service?>>
First, they got the chemicals wrong in the tank, which killed most of the fish.
<<Ahh...I see...sounds like you may have good reason for your concerns...>>
Then, when they replaced the fish, they brought us 5 crabs, a blue-throat Triggerfish, 3 assorted angelfish
<<Mmm...>>
(in separate bags. NOT introduced at the same time), and a pair of ocellaris (among others).  Of course, the Trigger ate the crabs
immediately.  I am an administrative assistant with little/no knowledge of fish, and have been tasked with taking care of their diet, and making sure they get what they need.
<<Sounds like you need to start doing some reading/researching my friend.  Google searches on our site and the NET re the species names will yield much information>>
So I need a little advice from professionals that actually care about the fish.  After the initial eating of the crabs, and the disappearance of one of the smaller Angelfish (which after reading on your site I found out why <<...?>>), the blue-throat trigger has started exhibiting odd behavior.  He lies down at the bottom of the tank on his right side, and just lays very still for long periods on time.
<<Maybe not all that "odd" after all.  Is there live rock in this tank? (should be if there isn't)...Does this tank have any type of decor/rock work?  These triggers will very often "rest" in a hole or crevice in the reef during the day, and definitely at night.  If the tank is not suitably aquascaped the trigger may be merely "resting" on the bottom of the tank>>
He is still eating well (They get frozen shrimp, the cubed kind once a day, and Formula 2 the blue-green algae variety flakes twice daily).
<<Do look in to obtaining some New Life Spectrum Marine pellets and a frozen "Angel" food formulated specifically for their care.  Feed these AND the frozen shrimp, with the flakes, twice daily>>
His color has faded a bit, but he doesn't have any spot or slime on him, and he hasn't rearranged the tank in a while- he used to do that all the time.  I read one of your entries about one having similar behavior in a 20 gallon tank, and you said the tank was too small but I don't think that is the case here- the tank is
200 gallons.
<<Agreed...but that doesn't mean there aren't more/other environmental factors at play here...such as water chemistry or the "design" of the tank itself>>
Could he be malnourished or ill?
<<Maybe...the trigger needs several small feedings of meaty foods daily.  The Spectrum pelleted food and the frozen shrimp fed at least twice a day will help.  For even better nourishment of ALL the fish, consider getting/soaking the food in Selcon and/or Vita-Chem a couple times a week>>
And is there some product or variety of food I should tell my boss to get for him?
<<Ah yes!...as explained>>
Cordially,
Jane
<<I want to help Jane, do write back if you need further clarification on anything...and try to give me as much information about the system as you can (filtration/maintenance/aquascaping (or lack of), etc.).  Regards, Eric Russell>>

Trigger beh., systems   5/25/06
Hi!
If a trigger paces, does this mean more water movement is needed? 240 gallon tank. Dale
<<Little to go on here. More complex decor to explore is another possibility. Lisa.>>

Re: Trigger Beh., Circulation - 5/28/2006
Sorry, more info:
4" clown trigger, in captivity 4 months.  Started "pacing" 3 months ago.  By pacing, I mean going end to end of the tank repetitiously.
<<Sounds like he needs more stimulation to me.>>
By increasing the circulation or turn around of water would it make a difference?
<<Possibly.  What is the GPH flow right now?>>
Dale

Bursa triggerfish    3/27/06
I have a question for you guys, about my Bursa Triggerfish. I have had him for two days, and he is eating fine. He lays around a lot behind the rocks, and comes out every once and awhile, and then goes and hides.
<To be expected...>
The night I first got him he dove into a tight hole and got stuck, and I had to free him.
<Can free itself>
Two days later, I noticed he had a whitish film covering different areas of his body. I think it's a bacterial infection, so I have been treating with Pimafix.
<Not a good idea...>
I would really appreciate if you could answer this question for me. I would not like to lose this fish.
<There is no question posted. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/fishindex3.htm
scroll down to the Triggerfishes area. Read re their Systems (yours needs a few hundred gallons ultimately, at least sixty uncrowded right now for itself), Compatibility, Disease... Bob Fenner>

Undulated Trigger Tail Spikes   03/07/06
Our Undulated can change her tail spot from black to the same color as her body. My question is can they retract their tail-spikes?
<Mmm, not much, no>
I've tried to get a close look but it's hard to tell. It seems as when her tail spot is matching her body color it looks as if just the tips of the spines are out; and when
it's black in color they appear longer. Thanks for the help.
Coady Keough
<Are a bit like the tangs of the subfamily Nasinae... with their "tangs" out all the way pretty much all the time. Bob Fenner>

Trigger Unhappy with Christmas Gift 12/30/05
We have a Niger trigger and recently (for Christmas) our daughter gave my husband a realistic "fake" anemone ("dad, you can't keep those anemones
alive") for the tank.  Since the introduction of the anemone, the trigger has found a hole in a rock and seems to spend much of his time in it.
Obviously he is threatened by this and we should remove it maybe, but it would devastate my daughter (she is 16).  Or is this going to be a normal
thing as you have mentioned, hiding in a rock?  We could not find much info re: hiding.  Would you suggest simply moving the anemone or removing it
altogether?  Maybe he will "get used" to it!!??  
<<Hiding in the rock is normal for a trigger that is stressed. Be patient
and the trigger should get used to the change in the tank.>>
Thanks,
Christie Vickers
<<You're welcome - Ted>>

Trigger, Sand, and Live Rock   12/28/05
Crew,  <KC>
Merry Christmas! <And to you>
My question relates to the interesting behavior of my Picasso trigger.  He
constantly sifts the sand, and spreads it all over my live rock.  In fact,
half of my live rock is now covered completely by sand (talk about a white
Christmas!). <Ah, the joys of keeping triggers.>
Is this bad for the live rock?  I plan to use a power head to blow most of
the sand off the rock.  But I would like to know if I need to clear the sand
off my rock every day or couple days to save my rock. <I don't believe any harm will come to the rock but for aesthetic reasons I think I would blow the sand off every couple days.  James (Salty Dog)>
Thanks
KC

HI biting triggerfish  9/19.5/05
Hello
<Hi, Adam J with you tonight>
On my first visit to Hawaii I was bitten on the right foot by a fish the lifeguard said it was a
triggerfish, it hurt a lot and I had teeth marks.
<OUCH!, sorry to hear that.> do they have teeth and how many and do they bite humans? Thanks
<they do have teeth, very sharp teeth in fact, many aquarists who keep triggers in aquariums have been bitten while cleaning the tank, and they leave a mark.  I don’t believe the trigger deliberately set out to attack you but it’s more likely you invaded his/her territory and it was defending itself.  Being in Hawaii it could have been a few different species of trigger that attacked you, see here for info on Triggers http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/triggers/>
<AdamJ>

Trigger & grouper question 8/21/05
Hi, I have had good luck with my undulate trigger with many other triggers in the tank.
<Thus far...>
I firmly believe that each fish is it's own self and that you cannot always judge a fish by it's species. I have a few questions, first, what is the largest undulate you've seen in a personal aquarium?
<Overall length, about twelve inches>
Second, starting at 5", what should I expect a clown trigger's length to be in a year given daily 'good food' feedings (i.e. New Life spectrum pellets, shrimp, squid, cuttlefish)?
<Perhaps seven-eight inches>
Lastly, at what length does a Louti grouper change from the juvi colorings, to the red body with yellow fin margins?
<Most at about six to eight inches>
Thanks, Dan.
<Bob Fenner>

Pinktail Trigger Questions, behavior mostly 6/31/05
Dear WWM Crew,
    Me again.  You guys have been great at answering some questions that I
have had in regards to the Clown Trigger species but now I come to you with my
hat in my hand.
<Wow, quite an archaic reference!>
Yesterday, June 29th, 2005 I purchased a 4 1/2" Pinktail
Trigger from my LFS.  I was actually there when they got the shipment in and to
avoid 2 sets of acclimations back to back, I purchased it immediately in the
shipping bag and took him home to acclimate him.  After acclimation, he was
introduced to the tank
<No quarantine... to check for health, allow the animal to rest, recover?>
where he proceeded to swim down to the bottom and lay kind of
sideways where he then exhibited heavy breathing.  From what I have read this
so far is normal right?
<Yes>
After an hour with the lights off, I went back,
turned the lights on and he had found himself a nice rocky area to hide in.  He
spent the next 4 hours in that spot and then came out and began to swim around
and check out his surroundings.  At that time, I then introduced 2 small pieces
of freeze dried krill which he gobbled up happily before retreating back to
his cave.  Today he began to venture out more, checking small areas at a time
and then hurriedly swimming back to his cave.  I fed him 2 more pieces of krill
around noon which he greedily accepted, then around 4PM I offered a small
amount of garlic soaked Mysid shrimp which he devoured, then this evening 4 more
pieces of garlic soaked krill which again he devoured.  This all looks good
but he has yet to stay out in the open only checking small areas at a time then
retreating back to his cave.  The guy looks flawless aside from a couple of
things.  One of his eyes has a tiny what appears to be cloudy mark on it.  What
might this be?  A scratch??
<Most likely, yes>
Also his 2 front fins are a bright yellow along
with his tail that is suppose to be pink.  Is this normal or has he just not
gotten his adult colors yet.  Thanks in advance for your reply.  I am a little
concerned.                                                 
  Jeff K
<No worries re the color... regional, temporal... Bob Fenner>

Our poor Clown Trigger
First off, hello and hope you all are doing well. Hopefully, this question will become helpful to others that might have the same scenario!
<I hope so too>
Secondly, my wife and I have a 70 gallon tank which, after the rocks and crushed coral and fish added is, about 60 or 55 gallon. We have 5 fish total:
-Spottyback Wrasse (purple body with orange face and gnarly teeth only approx. 3"=healthy)
-Yellow Tang (approx. 4"=healthy)
-Foxface (approx. 6"=healthy)
-Huma Trigger (which I bought about 2 years ago for my wife's birthday as she is the Trigger collector which is approx. 3"=healthy)
-Clown Trigger (which I bought WITH the Huma who is now approx. 5" or so=EATING BUT LAZY and LETHARGIC!!!).
<Mmm, this tank is too crowded... psychologically... and soon to be physiologically... If you wanted to keep just what you list here you'll need a few hundred gallons>
We just did a 50% water change about 1 week ago and they all seemed fine. Tests were all perfect (we've had the tank now over 3 years with the two Triggers added just 2 years ago). The wife tells me that "trigger's like to play silly games. they pretend to be sick and lay at the bottom until you walk over to check on them only to find out they are fine. Let's just keep an eye on him/her to see how it is doing and keep a log". 
Now, I have never had a saltwater tank, she and her brother had a 150 or so when they were teenagers that fell over after the Northridge Earthquake with approx. 2-3K worth of equip., livestock, etc., so, she has had more "practice". I do notice when I go to feed them, the Clown is very active. Today, this morning, I was sitting with my a.m. coffee and noticed the Foxface and Yellow Tang pecking at the Clown's "poo" and the Clown was just LAYING THERE! So, I went up to the tank and behold, the Clown starts doing his usual barrel rolls, swimming horizontally...etc. My questions/comments are:
1. I'm disgusted that the fish even eat poo that hasn't come out yet! YUCK!-Is this normal?
<Yes, and not harmful in general>
2. WHY is the Huma (which secretly I like more but will never tell the wife) SO much SMALLER? BTW...HATES seaweed...eats only krill and Trigger formula.
<Different species... propensity for growth is less and ultimate size...>
3. Is the Clown doing this for attention or is there something wrong?
<Not likely anything "wrong"... your wife is correct in stating re their play behavior... this fish is very likely "just bummed" out... >
4. The wife keeps telling me "don't get attached to the fish, they eventually get too big for our tanks and we will eventually have to trade them in for smaller fish"...is this true? I really love all the fish we've had so far and they have been with us for 3 years! I really would hate to trade them in. I would love to get a bigger tank but with that comes more work and focus and we have a baby on the way. Is there a peaceful resolution?
<Not really... your wife is correct here as well...>
5. Is my tank "okay" as far as inhabitants? The only thing I notice as far as "aggression" is, the Huma keeps getting it's butt kicked by the Wrasse only because it wants the Wrasse's "home"!
<It is not okay... is way too crowded, stressful... equivalent to you living in something space-wise like your house with a bull and a bear...>
That's it...let me know if I missed anything.
<Mmm, all seems well-written, complete... I would trade the Clown Trigger in or get a much larger system... with plans to get one or more even much larger systems down the near road. Bob Fenner>

Very Shy Niger
Hello there,
<Hi>
I was wondering if you might be able to help me with a fish of mine. I bought a 4 to 5 inch Niger trigger two weeks ago and he has spent 99% of his time hiding under a sponge in the quarantine tank.
<To be expected>
He's in there with a friendly Kole Tang. The Kole was shy too, but like all my other fish, got over it in a week or less.
This Niger is still hiding after 2 weeks and not eating much. Is there anything you recommend to bring him out? 
<Dip, move to your main tank>
How long should this go on before I become concerned?
<No time at all>
Should I wait for him to come out before I put him in my show tank? Any other advice?
Thank you very much.
<I would move this fish. Bob Fenner>
Brendgol Majewski 

Fading trigger
Hey guys, is it normal for a three inch humu humu trigger to fade to real
light in color.  He's been in the tank for three days now and I have a 65g.  
Sometimes he's real vivid and dark, other times he's real lite and dull, sometimes
change is drastic in short period of time.
Thanks
<Isn't abnormal at all... balistids do rapidly change color in response to mood, environmental conditions. Bob Fenner>

-A Niger Fakes it-
<Hello>
I bought a Niger triggerfish a week ago.
<Did you Q/t this fish?> 
He seems very active with my damsel, but when he stops moving he lays on his left side on the bottom of the tank in the same spot.
<Well they do tend to have personality "quirks" and each does different things to get us to pay attention.> 
Is this normal behavior of this fish?
<Could be, But I really need to know if this fish was q/ted or even freshwater dipped as it might be sick. Is it eating well, swimming normally and not having any spots etc?> 
I have just a 20 gal. tank with crushed coral bottom and 5 live rocks.
<Ok here is the problem, Not only was it not q/t ed its in a tank that is way too small for this fish. While it may be fine now and the laying on the substrate is normal (Mine does it sometimes to get more food), it will get way too large for this tank and will get sick soon if it isn't already. I hope your tank is not infected with any diseases from this fish, but please quarantine your fish for at least 4 weeks before putting them in your display. If any of them are sick or have ich then they will infect everything and its a hassle to get everything well. Also please research your fish on WWM before buying them. This fish will get 8" to 15" or more in some cases. Can you handle a 80-120 gallon tank for it?>
Thanks, John 
<Justin (Jager)> 

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)> 

Trigger behavior
Hello, <Hi Rory, MacL here with you tonight>
I hope the whole wet web media crew is having a happy holiday season!!! <So kind of you, I unfortunately have a cold which sucks!> I have been into this hobby now for about 6 years now off and on. Usually when I have a question I use the search engine on your website, and it usually tells me everything I need to know. Although this time I have a strange question that I don't know how to begin to try to find on the search engine. Now before I begin let me tell you that the care that I put into my tank is as far as I know good practice. I do a 30% water change with Catalina water every weekend. I perform regular test on my water quality PH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and always everything looks to be great. I also use RO top off water and mix the recommended dosage of either Kent's pro buffer additive, or calcium additive into the top off water but never both at the same time. Now about 2 months ago I purchased a Picasso trigger that is only about 1 inch in size. Like always I placed him in my quarantine tank for 2 weeks that has no substrate or rock and is a bare bottom tank with just a little plastic plate that goes across the bottom so the fish have some privacy when needed. <Sounds nice!> After 2 weeks everything looked well so I placed him in the main tank. At day 4, I noticed he started scratching on my live rock but he did not appear to have any white spots on him at all, not 1 nothing on his fins or body. So immediately I took him out and performed a fresh water dip for about five minutes with water that I raised the pH level with a buffer and made sure the temperature was the same. Then I placed him back in my quarantine tank and added some CopperSafe. I have not seen him scratch once from the very moment I put him back in the quarantine. I put him in there for a month and two weeks into him being back in the quarantine I performed another fresh water dip. He has never had any white spots, or any spots of any kind at all and he looks very healthy. Now today he has been in quarantine for a month with CopperSafe so I decided to put  him back in the main tank. Now the weird thing is as soon as I put him in the main tank he started scratching on the rocks for about a hour straight then he stopped and hasn't scratched at all??? <Okay that is definitely confusing. Sounds like there is something in the tank that is bothering him. Have you checked to make sure the tank is grounded and there is no electric current going into the tank.> I now have had him in there all night and he is no longer scratching, just immediately when I put him in for the first hour. This is strange he looks healthy as can be but I am worried about this strange behavior. Could it be that there is something that is irritating him in the main tank. It just doesn't make sense??? All my other fish in the tank are well with no signs of sickness or distress. If you can help me with this problem that would be great. <Triggers are known scratchers if that helps you at all. I think if it was me I would put him in quarantine for four weeks with the salinity lowered to a treatment level just to be on the safe side if he starts scratching again.> I don't really want to keep moving him back and forth from quarantine to main tank, but I guess I will if recommended, but I don't see how any parasites would survive from the fresh water dips and the CopperSafe treatment for a month??? <Sometimes it depends on the levels of the copper but hopefully since he has stopped then you'll no longer have to worry about him scratching again.> Thank You in advance, and I wish you all a happy holidays!!! <Thanks for the kind wishes. Please let us know if he starts again. MacL>

Nocturnal Odonus Niger?
Hello,
<Hi, Mike D here>
I am new at having a tank. I have a 125 gallon salt water tank. I have a yellow tang, an angel, Picasso trigger and a Niger trigger (Odonus Niger). At night the Niger is very active and likes to make splashing noises. Is this normal? I have been unable to find anything about the Niger fish being Nocturnal or anything else on this. Thanks.<The Niger trigger, sometimes sold in larger sizes as the Vampire trigger due to it's red teeth, can reach up to 19", so you may find that you need to upgrade to a larger tank eventually. To the best if my knowledge they aren't truly nocturnal but often occupy deeper waters, thus becoming "twilight fish" that are active in dimmer light. Not generally being as aggressive, when small, as the Picasso, it may be telling you that it needs an additional feeding now that the competition has eased off.  For whatever it's worth, the Niger is one of the few larger triggers that doesn't automatically eliminate tank mates as it matures as does the Undulatus, the Clown and the Queen, the hint here being don't add too many triggers lest you end up with a bloodbath in the eventual future.>

Trapped Trigger Trouble?
Hello once again, I'm quite sad to say the only time I have to ask you guys a question is when I have a fish in trouble.
<Quite alright! Scott F. here today>
I realized today that my Humu Humu triggerfish, who hadn't come out to eat in a few days, was trapped in "his rock"...the rock where he has swam into since I've had him.  I guess he just
simply got to  big to swim back out...no room to turn around in this small hole.  I slowly crushed the rock with a pair of pliers until he was freed.
<Whatever does the trick!>  
He IMMEDIATELY darted into the corner of the tank hiding from everything.  
<Understandable!>
This was about 15 minutes ago and he's still breathing really heavy.  I'm  pretty sure he's in quite a bit of shock, and I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help him recover.  Your help is always greatly appreciated.
Dean
<Well, Dean- triggers are very tough fishes, and although not indestructible, they come awfully close. I think that your fish simply needs some quiet time to rest up from this ordeal, as long as he is not displaying any signs of injury. Given the passage of time and a little peace and quiet (not to mention, some feeding with his favorite foods!), he should come around just fine! Good luck! Regards, Scott F.>

Stressed Trigger or not
Mr. Fenner,
<Brendgol>
When fish get stressed do they lighten up or darken up?
<Many do, yes>
In particular, black Hawaiian triggers?
<Melichthys niger? For sure! This is one of the most fast-changing color/pattern marines I know of>
Is their normal relaxed color black or is it the lighter green/yellow
look?
<Mmm, hard to say... have seen this species in the tropical West Atlantic and Hawai'i the most... and are at times apparently "happy" or "excited" and both light or dark in background color... the highlights though, mainly blues and golds, seem to be indicative of a positive mental/emotional, physiological state>
Also, I am treating my show tank with some of Kordon's reef safe Ick
Attack (I know you guys are not big believer's in the reef safe products)
all natural stuff and some Melafix (sp?).
I assume this stuff would not stress a fish out?
<Mmm, am not so sure. Any non-specific poison/medication (which these and almost all "fish medicines" are) I'd expect to add considerable stress to livestock>
How do I get rid of the Ick for good?
I have dropped the Spec Grav to 1.019
I don't want to go lower because of my cleaner shrimp in the tank
<!>
and I'm
afraid they will die if I lower it further..
Any suggestions?
<Please read over the MANY files of FAQs on Cryptocaryon posted on www.WetWebMedia.com re your possible avenues here. The shrimp should not be in a system being treated for parasitic disease... and should NOT be subjected to altered/lowered spg>
Thank you
Brendgol Majewski
<Study my friend. Bob Fenner>

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.>