As the name suggests, Triggerfish are among the most aggressive fish species. Their fascinating appearance with dots and patterns attracts many people towards them.
These intriguing creatures have some unique characteristics that help them survive in the ocean environment. The teeth of the fish are very hard and sturdy. They are able to crush shelled vertebrates with ease.
In this article, you will gain knowledge about the behavior and habitat of these aquatic triggers. Their anatomy, conservation, and recipe tips are explained in an organized way.
Reason for the Name
Aggressiveness is in their nature. Thus the name trigger is best for these types of fish. The fish strikes anyone that comes near their nest. The major reason is that these fish are protecting their nests.
The fish lock their dorsal fins in a straight position. These fish suppress their second spine to lock the first one in its place. This mechanism is “trigger-like,” giving the name “trigger” to the species. The whole mechanism is like a ball-and-socket joint.
How about pronouncing some vowels and consonants at the same time? Try saying “humuhumunukunukuapua’a”. I know it’s quite a lot to fill in the mouth, but it is a common name for Triggerfish in Hawaii.
| Common Name | Triggerfish |
| Scientific Name | Balistidae |
| Type | Fish |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Group Name | Harem |
| Size | Up to 3.3 feet (Stone Triggerfish) |
Anatomy
These marine species are oval-shaped with compressed bodies. The eyes pop out a bit because of the slim body structure. The eyes are very near to the mouth. The fish has very sharp teeth.
The teeth help them in breaking hard shells. It is also helpful in protecting them from dangerous species. The dorsal fins start at the half of the body and extend till the end. The tail of the fish is like a scythe.
These fish are able to extend their pelvic bones. It is useful in keeping the fish in tight places in case of any danger. The fish erect their spine on the front and protect the back by lowering the pelvic bone to wedge into a crevice. It keeps them safe in hostile environments.
Appearance
They are small to medium size fish. The maximum size of the gray Balistidae is 3.3 ft. These marine species are present in various colors and patterns. The adult fish is gray in color with bluish spots and lines on the body.
Black and charcoal gray are among the common colors of these marine species. The Young ones are known as brightly colored fish. These fish are yellow in color. Violet dots give them an appealing appearance.
Species
There are almost forty different species of Balistidae known so far. Scientists distribute these fish in twelve genres that contain forty species. All have different colors and patterns. Odonus, Pseudobalistes, and Balistes are common genres of Triggerfish.
The most common Triggerfish are clown Triggerfish, gray Triggerfish, and stone Triggerfish. Clown Triggerfish appear black and yellow with white spots all over the body.
Ray-finned Triggerfish
Triggerfish are also known as ray-finned fish. Their fins are of skin supported by rays made of bone. Gray Triggerfish is a great example of these marine species with rays. Its gray color helps the fish to camouflage in the sea.
The Gray Triggerfish is the most popular among this species because of its distinctive appearance. People love to make this fish a part of their aquarium.
Other Species
Reef Triggerfish, Orange-lined Triggerfish, Red-toothed Triggerfish, Queen Triggerfish, and Sargassum Triggerfish are among the most popular species of Triggerfish.
Feeding
These Aquatic Triggers commonly live in reefs. They prefer a sand environment as it is beneficial for reproduction. These fish feed on crabs and sea urchins. They use their fins to clear sand.
Blast of waste from the mouth plays a vital role in finding the food. Their sharp teeth help in capturing the sea urchins with ease. These fish also eat crabs and shrimp.
These aquatic triggers prefer to eat slow-moving creatures. Their sharp teeth crush any exoskeleton or shell. Sea cucumbers and starfish are also their prey.
Behavior
Some species are very aggressive in nature. These fish move in clusters and have specific territories. They protect their territories from other species. Titan Triggers possess the most amount of danger.
While scuba diving, you have to protect yourself from these fish. Their nest is not present in a specific area. Rather, their nest moves vertically. So, moving upward will get you closer to them as well.
Redtoothed Triggerfish
On the contrary, certain types of these marine species are not aggressive at all. Redtoothed Triggerfish is one of them. These fish mainly eat plankton (i.e., slow-moving organisms in the sea). Crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins, and echinoderms are their common food.
These species are very intelligent. They learn from their past experiences, helping them in the future. They sense the danger and act accordingly.
Reproduction
They have a peculiar reproduction nature. The male triggers mate when they are able to maintain a territory. Keeping a harem of female fish and protecting them are their main purposes. Due to this, the fish become aggressive during reproduction.
Reproduction Time
Reproduction occurs from April to August. It is according to the behavior of the moon and tides. Each species has a different reproduction rate that depends on the time and area of reproduction. Male Triggers create a territory, build nests in the sand that attract female fish.
One male fish easily defends three nests. Females also take part in guarding the nests. They circle the nest continuously while reproducing. Females deposit a large number of eggs at a single time.
Hatching Time
After fertilization, the fish aerate the eggs in the sea. The hatch time is about a day or two. Juvenile fish remain close to the plankton. It helps in feeding the fish.
After four to eight months, newborns are mature enough to move at the sea bottom. Two years is the average adult time.
Mating System
Some species, like crosshatch Triggerfish, have a different reproduction mechanism. These species spawn in the morning, and they lay eggs in the evening. These species prefer to lay their eggs in a small hole in the sand.
Males fertilize the eggs after laying. The new fish live among seaweed and sargassum until they grow larger and able to move freely.
SUMMARY
Triggerfish reproduce through external fertilization. The spawning process takes two to three days. The male creates a territory and builds a nest on the sand, where the female arrives and lays eggs. Both male and female Triggerfish protect the nest till the eggs are hatched.
Interaction With Humans
As these marine species reside in coral reefs, their interaction with humans is more common than other species. People capture the fish for food. Due to its attractive patterns and vibrant colors, these fish are in high demand for aquariums.
Polluting the sea is a major concern for the coral reefs. An increase in pollution will definitely increase the acid content in the sea. An increase in acid levels destroys the reef.
Destroying the habitat will affect the reproduction of the Triggers. It is a major threat to the future of these marine species. Keeping these species in a confined area disrupts its reproduction cycle. Be careful while keeping these species for a long time.
What to do When Encounter a Triggerfish during Fishing
They are aggressive, meaning they are usually not afraid of danger. If you are in their territory, they will definitely come closer to you. Be careful of the teeth of the fish. It looks human-like but it is a lot sharper.
While fishing, if you ever encounter an aquatic trigger, there is no need to panic or worry. Compose yourself and make the fish take the bait. Wait for the tail to come up and then start pulling it to yourself.
As these fish live in corals, they move and hide instantly. Their spines protect them from prey. Sometimes, it is frustrating as well. You have to act quickly and with care.
Knowledge of Common Triggerfish
Different species have different responses to danger. It is important to know about various Triggerfish before encountering them. Titan Triggerfish have a long tail.
Gray and orange-line Triggerfish tails are smaller than titans. These fish have a sharp memory so don’t give them a second chance to escape.
Baits
The best baits are small pieces of squid, shrimp, or baitfish. Attach the bait with hooks to lure the Triggers. Triggerfish rigs are generally lightweight. It is under fifteen pounds.
Three hooks are normally on the rigs with a long line to capture the fish. The longer clips and lines allow Balistidae to move into their territory as it is near the shore. It makes it easy to capture many fish.
Balistidae In Aquariums
It is not feasible to keep them in the aquarium with other fish. Their aggressive nature is not helpful for aquarists, who usually place them in separate aquariums.
Stone, queen, and gray Triggerfish are some common types of fish to keep in aquariums. It is important not to handle the fish yourself. Their sharp teeth are an imminent threat for the aquarists.
Caring
Mild temperature, pH, and saline water are essential for keeping these fish alive in any environment. These fish require a large area for their growth. It is not easy to handle these fish in their local environment.
Details of some parameters are as follows;
| Temperature | 21-26 °C |
| pH | 0.9-8.3 |
| Ammonia | 0 mg/L |
| Nitrite | 0 mg/L |
| Nitrate | 50 mg/L |
| Carbonate | (8-12 °dkH) |
| Calcium | 380-450 ppm |
| Magnesium | 1250-1350 ppm |
The trigger keeper needs to keep in mind that whatever the situation, the fish always end up alone. It is in their habitat to live aggressively. Certain tank requirements are essential for keeping them.
The question is why do we need to keep these fish? It’s very easy to answer. Any aquarist loves vibrant and appealing creatures in their aquarium. They are as colorful as they get.
Triggerfish With Other Companions
If you have a large aquarium, putting different kinds of fish is a hectic task. Species like squirrelfish, lionfish, hawkfish, tuskfish, and pufferfish are placeable in the same aquarium.
These fish might eat some small fish. But if the aquarium is large enough, several hiding places minimize the risk of eating other fish. Morays and Triggers go well inside an aquarium.
Morays’ tails are small otherwise they capture the attention of the Triggerfish. The teeth of aquatic triggers are strong enough to damage the tissues of the fish’s body. It is best practice to avoid this happening inside an aquarium.
Potential Risks
Triggerfish often use water release with pressure from their mouth to clear up sand. It helps them in locating food through the sand. While in the aquarium, these fish blow the water out of the aquarium with great pressure. This is also known as hydraulic jetting.
To avoid this happening in your aquarium, try to cover the top surface of the aquarium. Another best practice is to keep electronic gadgets away from the aquarium if Balistidae are present in the aquariums.
These fish use their sharp teeth to bite their food or prey. In most cases, These marine species bite the heater. The heater needs protection in the form of a sump. If it is not available, try using titanium covers.
Titanium is harder and stronger than the fish’s teeth. It easily protects the heather from the sharp teeth.
Picasso Triggerfish
Picasso is a thing of beauty. It seems to come straight out of heaven. Unique color combinations and pattern forces aquarists to keep it in their collections. Keeping juvenile fish with other large fish is a solution but not for this species. They immediately become hostile and attack other fish.
Keep the huma huma or Picasso with other aggressive fish. If you keep them with smaller fish, it is likely that these fish will eat them up. Always remember to keep only one Picasso in an aquarium.
Picasso is also a somewhat milder type. It does not mean that it is not aggressive. If you have a new aquarium or are a beginner in fish collection, remember to keep this fish away from other small fish.
Feeding
It is an easy job for any aquarist. Drop some hard-shelled invertebrates, and you are good to go. It is easy to find seafood for the fish. Fish, shrimp, and crabs are common food items.
In the wild, these fish eat everything an animal has to offer. Irrespective of the meat, the shell and other organs of the crab are also a part of food for these marine species. Eating all parts makes the vitamins necessary for these fish.
Always remember to balance the diet. Otherwise, it might trigger the fish. Keeping the aquarium safe is also a huge task.
Triggerfish as Food
Balistidae are hidden gems of any delightful cuisine. They taste incredibly good, and the cooking is done properly. Out of 40 species, only clown Triggerfish is not edible.
People all over the globe love eating these fish. Gray Triggerfish is among the common edible fish. Hawai, the Caribbean, USA, Japan, China, etc. are some countries where these fish are a source of food.
These fish over five pounds are not suitable for eating. These fish are susceptible to bacteria and parasites that make them unhealthy. Ciguatoxin is a poisonous chemical in some ocean animals. You need to avoid eating such species.
Selecting Triggerfish
Their size, weight, and age are common factors in selecting the best fish for cooking.
Preparing
It is essential to remove the hard skin of the fish before seasoning. Submerge the knife inside the fish and start removing the skin. Otherwise, it is difficult to separate skin from the meat.
These are not thick, which is why cutting is done with precision. Simple seasoning agents like salt, pepper, and lemon are perfect for this purpose. Both frying and grilling are easy cooking methods.
Eating
Freshly cooked Triggerfish works well with bell tacos, salads or pasta. Creative kitchen cuisines keep you mesmerized in the taste and ensure delicious food for your table.
Varieties of Triggerfish
They have different tastes and cooking methods depending on the country and local area. The most common recipes are boiled, grilled, and baked Triggerfish.
Different recipes have different tastes. If you want to eat a Trigger, try it with different recipes. It surely gives you an unforgettable mouth-watering experience.
Conservation
Fishermen capture the wild Triggerfish in large numbers. It is because of their high demand in all areas of the world. Due to the smaller amount, these species are now in danger.
One such species is the queen Triggerfish. There are only a small number of these fish left in the sea. The Caribbean and U.S. government has plans to conserve these species.
Scientists are developing ways to farm these fish so that the wild species are left alone in the sea. The same is the case with other species of the Triggerfish.
Effect on Reefs
These fish play a vital role in keeping the coral reefs fresh and alive. The fish clears up the dirt as they require clean areas for mating. It is noticeable that reefs grow extensively in the presence of these species.
The best example is sea urchins. Their large numbers will directly affect the shelf life of reefs. Orange-lined Triggerfish eat the sea urchins, which keep their numbers in check. Other species are also suitable for this purpose.
SUMMARY
It is prohibited to catch wild Triggerfish, as they are near extinction. However, they are in high demand, which encourages fishermen to capture threatened species. Triggerfish are essential to keeping coral reefs fresh and alive.
Conclusion
Triggerfish are known due to their unique appearance and dazzling patterns. These are aggressive in nature. Long spine and dorsal foldable tail help these fish protect themselves from any prey.
If you ever visit coastal areas, you should try this fish. Wild Triggerfish have a unique taste that will tickle your tastebuds.
Knowledge about these marine species is necessary before purchasing one for your aquarium. Depending on the neighboring species, a large aquarium with reefs may fit their needs.