Do you wonder where this fish got it’s name “Redtooth Triggerfish? Well, this fish has red teeth!
The Blue Triggerfish, Black Triggerfish, or Redtooth Triggerfish has an upturned mouth with a protruding chin and it’s color is a blue to purplish-blue with it’s head sometimes going yellowish.
The first one of these that we saw came to the store wedged in a sea shell! The shell was the trigger’s home and rather than try to remove it, the owner sold us the fish, shell and all. When we sold the fish to someone else, all we had to do was bag the shell so the triggerfish got to keep his own home through several moves.
The Blue Triggerfish, Black Triggerfish, or Redtooth Triggerfish can often be a peaceful aquarium fish, especially if they have plenty of room and are well fed. We have read in one reef book that this triggerfish are okay to keep in reefs, we would still be careful about invertebrates though and keep a watchful eye out for any trouble.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Balistidae |
| Genus: | Odonus |
| Species: | niger |
Maintenance difficulty
The Blue Triggerfish, Black Triggerfish, or Redtooth Triggerfish is easy to keep. Triggers are among the hardiest of all marine fish.
Maintenance
Feed all kinds of live, frozen, and flake foods. Best to feed small amounts several times a day. We generally feed squid, shrimp (the same kind people eat), mussels, and all kinds of chopped up fish or worms.
Habitat: Natural geographic location
Blue Triggerfish are found in the Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa and east to the Marquesas and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef in Australia and New Caledonia. These fish Inhabit reef channels or along slopes that are subject to strong currents. Occur in current-swept seaward coral reefs. Usually form aggregations and feed on zooplankton as well as sponges. Juveniles associated with isolated patches of rubble or crevices with proper-sized shelter holes. They have been known to form large schools to feed on zooplankton.
Foods
In the aquarium they should be fed all kinds of meaty marine foods, brine shrimp, cut up fish, shrimp, squid, etc.
Social Behaviors
Sociable and peaceful, can be considered a community fish.
Sexual differences
Light: Recommended light levels
Temperature
No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine fish is between 74 and 79 degrees fahrenheit.
Length/Diameter of fish
Blue Triggerfish, Black Triggerfish, or Redtooth Triggerfish adults can grow to 25 cm (10 inches).
Minimum Tank Length/Size
A minimum 60 gallon aquarium is recommended.
Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
Availability
This fish is generally readily available.
Featured Image Credit: R. Maximiliane, Shutterstock
Contents
- Scientific Classification
- Maintenance difficulty
- Maintenance
- Habitat: Natural geographic location
- Foods
- Social Behaviors
- Sexual differences
- Light: Recommended light levels
- Temperature
- Length/Diameter of fish
- Minimum Tank Length/Size
- Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
- Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
- Availability
