Niger Triggerfish

The Niger triggerfish is recognized by its dark purple-blue body, the red teeth visible in its mouth and its lyre-shaped tail with elongated tips. In the wild it eats zooplankton in schools in open water and, when in danger, wedges itself into a hole in the rock. It is more docile than most triggerfish, but it is still a large fish: in the aquarium it usually reaches 25–30 cm, and over 40 cm in the wild. Specimens are wild-collected.

• At least 500 liters and 180 cm in length; open swimming space and rock holes to shelter in.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe with caution: it generally leaves corals alone, but may eat small shrimp, crabs and snails and may dig at the rocks.
• Place the heater and hoses in a protected position, as it may bite them.

Omnivorous. Frozen mysis, krill, chopped shrimp and squid, marine fish pellets and dried seaweed. Twice a day.

A relatively peaceful triggerfish; it mostly hangs around its own hole. It may become cantankerous as it ages and towards fish added later. Very small fish that fit in its mouth are at risk.

Good companions: In a large aquarium, tangs, large angelfish, foxface, large wrasses, large damselfish.

Avoid: Small shrimp and crabs, very small fish, seahorses, more aggressive triggerfish.