Wednesday, January 16

Clown triggerfish - the most popular and colorful sea fish.


The most popular and colorful sea fish
The Clown triggerfish is an eye-catching marine species and the most popular trigger species. It is also known as Clown Trigger, Big-spotted Triggerfish. It is found along the inner and outer portions of a reef in the wild, wherever shellfish and other invertebrates are found. The Scientific name of this beautiful sea creature is Balistoides conspicillum. It is the only triggerfish that has been bred in home aquariums. Maximum size of the fish can reach up to about 20 in / 50 cm in length.

Close view of Clown triggerfish
It has a brown body and the ventral surface has large, white spots on a dark background, and its dorsal surface has black spots on yellow. The mouth is surrounded by a yellow field whit a white edge and may be used to deter potential predators. On its back the Clown triggerfish has a yellow to gold colored field and there is a vertical, white (slightly yellow) stripe on the caudal fin. The tailfin peduncle is sometimes, but not always, of the same yellow/gold color.

It has a dramatic coloration, which making this species a most sought after addition to the home aquarium. Among the most colorful, the Clown Triggerfish is also one of the most aggressive commonly kept inhabitants of an aquarium and it should never be kept with smaller fish or invertebrates. The fish are not reef safe and should not be kept in reef aquariums.

The Clown triggerfish originates from the Indo-Pacific coastal waters from 1-75 meters in depth. This fish is generally uncommon or rare throughout its range, which includes African east coast down to Durban, South Africa and eastwards to Samoa. They can be found as far north as Southern Japan and as far south as New Caledonia.

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