Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indian Ocean: Red Sea and western South Africa, east to the Indo-Central Pacific Ocean: Southern Japan, Hawaiian, Marquesas, and Tuamotu Islands, and Lord Howe Island, and also Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Senegal to South Africa.
Size: 10 inches (25 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits subtidal reef flats and shallow lagoons with adults openly swimming and juveniles staying near rubble areas. Feeds on algae, detritus, urchins, crustaceans, mollusks, smaller fish, tunicates and forams. Sleeps on its side and makes a whirring noise when frightened.
General Husbandry: In general, an extremely hardy and colorful species with an overall body color of light tan, a pale blue band over the upper mouth, yellow stripe from cheek to cheek, several brownish and pale blue gradient bands on the body, and several blue bands across the head to the pectoral fins.
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, possibly with some algae, such as Spirulina mixed in, with two or three feedings per day. Should only be maintained with 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! May be fairly peaceful as a juvenile, yet can get more aggressive with age. 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. Yet more than one of this species/genera can be maintained, with caution, in the same aquarium if the aquarium is large enough and all are introduced at the same time.
Taxonomy:
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Suborder: Tetraodontoidei
Family: Balistidae
Genus: Rhinecanthus
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 aquarium
Coral Safe: No
Invertebrate Safe: No
Tankmates: Equal in size or larger/will attack/eat smaller fish
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.026
pH: 7.9 - 8.5
