Pseudobalistes fuscus

(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Blueline Triggerfish, Yellow-spotted Triggerfish, Rippled Triggerfish, Blue and Gold Triggerfish

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to Durban, South Africa, east to the Line, Marquesan, and Tuamotu Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.

Size: 22 inches (55 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits inshore shallow lagoons and seaward reef areas and is often found over sandy areas near reef patches and reef edges. Seeks caves in the reef structure to hide or rest during evening hours. Feeds on urchins, crustaceans, mollusks, smaller fish, tunicates and various corals.

General Husbandry: Very hardy and quite an attractive species, with the adult having white lips, and a yellowish body completely filled with blue irregular lines that flow into all fins except the pectoral fins. Nevertheless, definitely a large and aggressive triggerfish and one that becomes even more belligerent as it grows older/larger.

In the home aquarium, requires 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. They are not reef safe, as they will eat small fish, ornamental shrimp, snails, urchins and worms such as feather dusters and nip various corals.

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 to its liking 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, should have rocky caves to explore and 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: Pseudobalistes

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: 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: 250 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.026

pH: 7.9 - 8.5