All fish / Balistidae

Clown triggerfish

Balistoides conspicillum

Also known as clown trigger, big spotted triggerfish, clown triggerfish, ปลาวัวลายเสือดาว, モンガラカワハギ, ikan pakol, 小丑炮弹, 花斑拟鳞鲀

A striking triggerfish with a black body, large white spots on the belly, a yellow leopard-like saddle on the back and bright yellow-orange lips. It is kept for its bold colours and big personality, often learning to recognise its keeper.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

35 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

1000 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: shrimp, squid, clams, mussels, krill and hard-shelled foods to wear down the teeth

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan and south to Australia

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs in a nest dug in sand and the female guards them fiercely. It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums.

Good to know

Grows large and becomes very aggressive, attacking tankmates and eating invertebrates, so it is not reef safe. It can bite hands and rearrange rockwork, so secure the aquascape.