Xanthichthys auromarginatus (Blue throat/jaw triggerfish)

[SMS76]

Who has this fish in club? I know Chuck has it but do anybody else have this fish? If so few Q's?

-> Is it reefsafe in your tank?
-> Is it invertsafe in your tank?
-> How long do you have this fish?
-> How hardy is it in your opinion?

I am considering this fish for my softie tank. This is supposed to be more docile and less aggressive. (Will this go after your finger/hand?? ) Here is the pic from web:

 

[Moe_K]

Only anecdotal evidence here (never kept one); but this past weekend I watched these fish in the big tank down in Atlantis. They were well behaved.
From Scott Michael's and Greg Schiemer's talks, this fish is pretty safe. Those guys hate to say anything is 100% reef safe. They did point out that the fish's mouth actually points upwards - it's a midwater planktovore, not suited for picking off the substrate. Scott said to pick off the substrate it'd pretty much have to swim upside-down. Both Scott and Greg recommended these fish for our reef tanks.

 

[SMS76]

Thanks Moe for reply. Do they say anything about leaving shrimps and other inverts alone?

 

[Moe_K]

They said it should be okay with inverts.
Also should be okay with other fish in your tank: except other triggers and very docile fish like firefish. It might spook the firefish so they wouldn't come out and eat.

 

[mikestod]

my sargassum (cousin from the same family) leaves everything in my tank alone. i have 2 cleaner shrimp, the smallest hermits, even 4 small neon blue cleaner gobies. It doesn't pick at corals either. Even gets somewhat bullied by my powder blue tang. I've been nipped at during feeding time when break up frozen food in the tank by hand, but it doesn't hurt...its more surprising than anything. It doesn't usually nip at me when I have my hand in the tank for anything else, only when my finger tips are in it. Its like a dog in a way. It just gets overzealous at feeding time. And I can actually pet it sometimes believe it or not.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Mine is RIP as you know. He was really shy, but he ate well and appeared to be healthy....not sure why he died after only a few weeks ;-(

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

One more thing....I would quaranteen this fish for a while just to get him used to eating and to people, etc. This may help de-stress the fish and make him less shy in your main tank.

 

[SMS76]

Thanks guys for replies.

Chuck, sorry to hear about your trigger. Where did you get yours from?

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Blue Throat

Thanks guys for replies.

Chuck, sorry to hear about your trigger. Where did you get yours from?

Thanks, Shoeib. I got mine at Aqua Addicts and he was in good shape when I got him.

 

[SMS76]

Over all how easy or tough to get this fish eat prepared food?

 

[mikestod]

i had no problems with mine except shyness. It took a few days to adjust to its surrounding and hid in the rockwork. Gradually made its way out into the world and then began eating everything!

 

[SMS76]

Mike what size tank do you had this fish in? What were the other tank mates? Is that FO or FOWLR or reef setup?

 

[SMS76]

Still considering this fish. Any feedback if you owned this fish.

 

[DLCanuck]

Hi, I have this one for long time http://eyefathom.com/photos/249_0055.jpg
He doing great, they like to play pick-a-boo, when my metal halide are off and just my blue light are on he come out and swim. I guess they don't light too much. He?s in my 210 tank.

 

[Dan Currier]

so pretty, yet so fake looking :-/ (coming from someone whos only kept FW)

 

[marco67]

I have ordered and sold quite a few here, they are a favorite among large tank owners.
In the time they spend in the store I have never seen one bother a tank mate and we have kept them with pretty much all the usual suspects clowns, wrasses, gobies, tangs etc....
As far as they shy factor it's hit or miss sometimes they are out and swimming right from the bag worse case I've seen was about 2 weeks of hiding before deciding it was cool then he was all set.
Eating prepared food is not a problem and is actually pretty fun these guy have a voracious appetite and are pretty fun to watch I swear they would eat a PB&J if offered. For entertainment ours and the fishes we like to feed the large veggie pellets once and a while. They will pick it up and knock it all over the tank (fishy hacki-Sac) before eating it.
Oh and the shrimp....I know of one that a friend has shares a cave with 2 cleaners.

 

[SMS76]

Thanks guys for replies.

Do they move around rocks and sand?

 

[gurumasta]

i have owned a small male for a couple months. its in a 72 lps/softie tank with cleaner and peppermint shrimp and anemones and other inverts. has never touched a thing. this fish is nothing but a pleasure for me. very shy, even after a couple months. awesome fish. has never stirred up sand or moved anything. peaceful and slow moving.

 

[SMS76]

Well, i got the healthy one yesterday. It was in a store for over a week and was eating over there.
In my tank right away it swimmed all over the tank and he ate a good portion of food with other fish. I was worried about yellow tang harrasing him but he is almost the same size as yellow tang and i think YT is afraid of him. Never goes near blue throat. Initially Imperator angel who is bigger then him didn't pay any attention to him but after couple of hours i guess he got mad and drove him in a cave. I hope it's not a big deal and they will go to their business today.

Blue jaw is very nice fish and i am very happy with him.

 

[Kevin McG]

When I first got mine into the tank the other fish reacted much like what you described, all the other fish were like "What the hell is that!!"

Good luck with him and post some pix