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Blue Triggerfish

Black Triggerfish ~ Redtooth Triggerfish Balistidae

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Odonus niger

   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.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Dream Aquarium Build your own aquarium. The Coolest and Funnest Screensaver in the World.

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.

Sex: Sexual differences:
   Unknown.

Light: Recommended light levels:
   No special requirements.

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
   No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
   No special requirements.

Availability:
   This fish is generally readily available.

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Latest Comments
Niger Trigger: A beautiful deep blue color. Very shy when first introduced into the aquarium, but become much more active in about a week. My Niger Blue trigger is about three inches long and eats freeze-dried krill. No problems keeping a lionfish in the same 75 gallon tank... at this size. Art Wallrath 2007-06-28
Blue trigger or Red-tooth trigger is actually refered to as the Niger trigger. People say that this trigger will pick at the fins of lionfish or fins of a shark but this has not happened yet to me. The Niger trigger is one of the most peaceful triggers in the hobby. They are usually sold very small and can get to be 18 inches. However they do grow very very slow and can easily be kept in a 75gal for quite a long time. These fish are NOT picky eaters and will eat almost about anything. Ben compton 2006-06-12
This is a cool fish. It can get stuck in rocks so watch out. A.trost 2005-10-06
This is a great fish to get. It often digs, moves rocks, and sometimes makes grunting noises. This fish is agressive in my tank, even chasing, and picking at my lionfish. Anonymous 2005-04-28
Some of the coolest comments:
this one of my favourite fish to keep. it is pretty good with other fish although mine did chase and nip my zebra moray eel. one bad point about this fish is it makes hell of a mess in your tank, digging holes in the substrate, and toppling rock work. Craig 2004-07-26

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