Hiding Undulate Trigger

[Maamalade]

Hi

I'm a very very newbee. Firstly to this site, but also to keeping fish.

My partner has a marine tank with Corals and various fish which is going really well. He has a second tank 3ft x 2ft x 2ft which we have put an undulate trigger in. We bought it as it seemed very sad in the pet shop and was in a tiny tank.

We have a problem though, the trigger is just hiding in the rock! It won't even come out for food, we have to put the food on the gravel and he eats it during the night. We have had it for about 3 months. It was shy for the first couple weeks, then came out for a bit but always swimming backwards, and is now just not wanting to be seen

Could someone please help me out with how to aquascape, look after this beautiful fish to be able to enjoy it and know it's there. If it stays as it is we will have to get rid of it but I don't want to, I'm sure something can be done.

Thanks

 

[Maamalade]

Hi
I've moved some of the rock around while trying to remove some Aiptasia from the tank. The trigger is still trying to hide behind the rocks that are still there.

Is it likely from fear? I don't mind the hiding some of the time, but to never see it is annoying.

Please help

 

[PDRed302]

He/she may he acting out because of tank size? From what I've read that fish will require a 180 gallon tank. I only say this because I currently have a Salvini in a quarantine and he hides constantly; I know the tank is big enough for him at his size but he doesn't seem to think so and this is not the first time I've had a fish hide while it was in my smaller quarantine tank.

This is of course just a thought, I'm not a salt guy, so I definitely wouldn't know for sure; you may have better luck posting this in the salt water section.

Good luck.

 

[Jc1119]

Yeah I think the tank size could have an effect. I had a 12" in a 220 and ended up selling him because that tank was getting tight for him with other fish.
Tough fish at the end of the day. Most aggressive fish I've ever kept and they get big. Not for the lighthearted fish keeper.



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[zoohouse]

Low lighting and tankmates will cure most shy fish issues. Beware undulated triggers are beasts and will eat ANYTHING. I had one at 6" destroy and eat a 14"green wolf eel, 8" huma picasso, 9" panther grouper, and a few others in a few week time period. He effectively cleaned out a 90gal grow out tank. I culled him out of anger to save the only survivor in the tank, a reversed patterned snowflake moray. I will never keep another but the pattern on undies is incredible up close.

 

[Maamalade]

Thanks for the replies, it does come out we think at night as the food we put in is gone by morning so that may have something to do with it. We did research before buying and thought the tank may be on the verge but ok.

I'll try to post in the salt water bit, didn't know there were different sections.

If you think of anything else please let me know.