Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: East Africa south to Durban South Africa, north to Indonesia, Samoa, Southern Japan, and southeast to New Caledonia.
Size: 20 inches (50 cm)
Natural Environment: Adults inhabit deep, up to 240 foot depths (75 m) in outer reef drop-offs areas. Juveniles usually stay near sheltered caves or overhangs in shallower waters, about 20 – 65 feet (6 - 20 m). Seeks caves in the reef structure to hide or rest during evening hours and feed on small fish, starfish, crabs, urchins, and shrimp.
General Husbandry: Definitely among the most colorful of triggerfish, as the adult Clown Triggerfish is overall black with big white spots on the belly area and a yellow and black spotted oval area on its top body. They also have a yellowish edged mouth similar to ‘lipstick,’ along with yellow highlights on the anal fin, dorsal fin and caudal peduncle. Juveniles tend to be overall blacker with white spots.
In the home aquarium, they require a meaty diet, e.g., fortified brine shrimp, mysis, chopped fish, shrimp, squid, and clam flesh, and/or meaty type frozen carnivore foods with two or three feedings per day highly recommended. Not totally reef safe as they will eat small fish, ornamental shrimp, snails, urchins, and worms such as feather dusters! Yet corals, soft and stony are not at risk. Small specimens can be housed in aquariums of 75 gallons, yet larger, over 5 inches (12.5 cm) need at least 125 gallons if not larger depending upon their size. If maintained with other fish, they are better kept with 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. Should their diet be inadequate, they tend to lose their vivid colors, yet they will normally be paler when resting during nighttime.
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. The Clown Triggerfish is one of the most popular triggerfish species kept in home aquariums!
Taxonomy:
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Suborder: Tetraodontoidei
Family: Balistidae
Genus: Balistoides
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: Easy
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Acclimation Time: 15 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only and ‘coral only’ reef aquariums
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: No
Tankmates: Equal in size or larger/may attack/eat smaller fish
Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C).
Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.026
pH: 7.9 - 8.5
