Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Ascension, Cape Verde, Angola, and Western Atlantic Ocean: Massachusetts to Brazil, northern Gulf of Mexico
Size: 20 inches (50 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits inshore rocky and coral areas at depths of about 10 to 100 feet (3 - 30 m) and is sometimes found in schools, whereas individuals may be found over open sandy or grassy areas. Seeks caves or coral branches to hide or rest during evening hours. Feeds mostly on urchins, crustaceans, mollusks, smaller fish, and tubeworms.
General Husbandry: This is a very pretty fish, with its upper body somewhat greenish and its lower aft body bluish, and has a yellowish throat/breast area and two blue broad diagonal curved bands from the mouth to the pectoral fins, with one of these bands also circling the mouth. The tail, which has a blue vertical bar at the peduncle, has long streamers, and is edged in bright blue, as is the dorsal fin. Black lines radiate outward from the eyes, giving it an eyelash –like appearance. Capable of dramatic color changes due to environmental conditions, so no two look exactly alike. Rarely seen in the general trade because it's not only quite aggressive, its large size requires an aquarium at least that of about 200 gallons to house it correctly!
In the home aquarium, they require a meaty diet, e.g., chopped fish, shrimp, squid, and clam flesh, and/or meaty type frozen carnivore foods with two or three feedings per day. If maintained with other fish, they should be larger more aggressive fish, such as large moray eels, snappers, angelfish, tangs or other larger fish that can defend themselves, yet not lionfish, as they are too slow moving and a target for fin nipping. May also re-aquascape your aquarium and make a mess of the sandbed due to its constant searching for infauna/invertebrates. Will also bite the hand that feeds it, so do not place your hands in the aquarium! As to its environmental needs, provide enough rocky caves for it to hide or sleep in. Keep in mind that generally its recommended not more than one triggerfish be kept per aquarium unless a mated pair, and furthermore, that it be the last fish to be placed into the aquarium.
Taxonomy:
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Suborder: Tetraodontoidei
Family: Balistidae
Genus: Balistes
FYI: Their common name, triggerfish, comes from their ability to lock and unlock their first dorsal fin. This fin is normally retracted and carried in a groove on the upper body. When frightened, the fish will dart into a crevice or branch of coral and raise this trigger-like fin, securely locking itself into its place of protection.
They should be housed with small pieces of seashells since they like to bite on them or turn them over in the search of prey. Better these shells than other aquarium decor. It also helps keep their teeth worn-down, which actually could get too long and pointed and cause them some difficulty in feeding.
In general, triggerfish are like angelfish and surgeonfishes, as they have laterally compressed bodies with small mouths with strong jaws and chisel-like teeth for crushing hard-shelled prey. However, eyes are set back and located high on their large head to avoid damage when feeding on urchins, one of their favorite foods.
Preys on sea urchins by squirting water from the mouth under them to overturn, then attacks its meaty underside.
Even though specimen and confines specific, those in the genera Balistes, Balistoides, Pseudobalistes, Rhinecanthus, and Sufflamen are generally thought of as the most aggressive in the Triggerfish family. Those in the Melichthys, Odonus and Xanthichthys genera are more suitable community fish candidates, yet all are not trust worthy when it comes to invertebrates as mentioned above.
Care Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Acclimation Time: 15 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquariums
Coral Safe: No
Invertebrate Safe: No
Tankmates: Equal in size or larger/may attack/eat smaller fish
Minimum Tank Size: 200 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.026
pH: 7.9 - 8.5
