Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Morocco to Angola, including Madeira, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde
Size: 24 inches (60 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy and rocky bottom areas in coastal waters, usually at depths of 10 to 150 feet (3 – 45 m), yet sometimes seeks deeper waters, sometimes up to 300 feet (90 m). Seeks caves or coral branches to hide or rest during evening hours. Feeds mostly on crabs and bivalves.
General Husbandry: This is a very pretty fish with a light yellowish colored body covered in dark spots and blue markings, with a bright gold-colored spot on each side. Somewhat rarely seen in the general trade/local shops 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 highly recommended. 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, a extremely hardy species and like angelfish and surgeonfishes, 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 aquarium
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
