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>

Male Blue Jaw Triggerfish…Wants Female? – 09/08/07
Good morning and thank you as always for your wonderful site.
<<Hi Jeanne…we’re all glad you like it>>
I hope this one is an easy question.
<<Hmm…is there such a thing in this hobby? Easy, maybe…simple, never… But I digress…[grin]>>
I have a small (5") male Xanthichthys auromarginatus (I have had him about 3 months) in my 150 gallon reef tank.
<<Wonderful fish… I kept a male/female pair in a 375g display for a number of years>>
Lots of zoos, leathers, mushrooms, a couple of Crocea clams -only one coral banded shrimp and one large Sally Lightfoot crab and large Purple lobster, because the stupid --and not at all shy, may I add--Blue Hamlet ate all the other shrimp.
<<Mmm, not the fault of the fish…is what a Blue Hamlet does (will happily gobble down small fishes too!)…as research “before purchase” would bear out>>
He is such a sweetheart that I would like to get a female Blue Jaw Trigger.
<<Triggerfishes are quite intelligent and seem to develop distinct personalities…very easy to see how a fish-keeper becomes attached. He may seem “sweet” (do be cautious if hand-feeding), but adding another of the same species, even though female, may not be possible>>
Can she be added at this point without him acting excessively aggressive to her?
<<Probably not…at least not by just “dropping her in” the system. The pair I had were special ordered as such…likely collected as a pair…subsequently quarantined/held together right up to their introduction to the display…and even so, there was the occasional nip-and-chase. If you are willing to go to the trouble… I suggest you set up a holding/quarantine tank of “at least” 29g (bigger the better) with some bits of PVC pipe or fittings large enough for the female to hide in. Place the female in this tank first then add the male and watch closely for a while, and be ready to intervene if necessary. Unless the aggression escalates to the point where one or the other is being damaged, keep the fish here and watch them closely for a few days allowing them to become “familiar’ with one another. Maybe you’ll get lucky and the fish will “pair-up”…but do also be prepared to rescue/return the female>>
He ignores even the smallest fish--Pajama cardinals and the Royal Gramma and Blackcap Basslet, but one of his own kind may provoke a different response.
<<Indeed, this fish is quite compatible with most inverts/other peaceable fishes in my experience…quite “reef friendly” in my opinion. But conspecifics can be a whole different matter…especially so once a fish becomes “established” as yours surely has by now>>
Thank you very much in advance,
Jeanne
<<A pleasure to assist. EricR>>