Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Entire Indo-Pacific Ocean and Red Sea.
Size: 20 inches (50 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal shallow inshore waters to outer reef drop-offs at depths of 30 to 100 feet (9 – 30 m) and feeds on small fish, starfish, crabs, urchins, and shrimp. Sleeps and/or rests on rock ledges, coral branches or in caves and crevices.
General Husbandry: This species tends to have different color combinations from day to day, with blue-green one day, and the next day a purplish blue. Furthermore, their large head area is a slightly lighter color than the rest of its body, and its tail has long filaments on the upper and bottom tailing edges. They also have a unique form of swimming where the anal and dorsal fins are used for most of their movement. When bursts of speed are needed, they use rapid movements of the tail giving them a swimming style not seen by other species throughout the animal kingdom. Definitely an attractive fish, and one of the most popular triggerfish species kept in home aquariums!
Their home aquarium care requires a meaty diet, e.g., fortified brine shrimp, mysis, chopped fish, urchins, shrimp, squid, and clam flesh, and/or meaty type frozen carnivore foods with two or three feedings per day highly recommended. Should their diet be inadequate, they tend to lose their vivid colors, yet will normally be paler when resting during nighttime.
Some people say they are reef safe, yet, that’s not a proven fact, as small fish, ornamental shrimp, snails, urchins and worms such as feather dusters are at risk! Yet corals, soft and stony are not at risk. Most are better kept with large moray eels, snappers, angelfish, tangs or other larger fish, yet not lionfish, as they are too slow moving and a target for fin nipping. 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: Odonus
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.
Especially fond of live urchins, which they turn over with jets of water from their mouth, then consume their meaty unprotected bottom areas.
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: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Acclimation Time: 15 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only and Reef Aquariums (with caution)
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: (See above)
Tankmates: Equal in size or larger/may attack/eat smaller fish
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C).
Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.026
pH: 7.9 - 8.5
