All fish / Balistidae

Picasso Triggerfish

Rhinecanthus assasi

Also known as arabian picasso triggerfish, assasi triggerfish, assasi trigger, arabian picasso trigger, red sea picasso trigger, picasso trigger, humu humu triggerfish, ムラサメモンガラ, 阿拉伯毕加索炮弹, 阿氏锉鳞鲀

A sturdy triggerfish with a pale body, a dark mask band running back from the eye, blue and yellow lines on the face and black bars near the tail. It is the Red Sea counterpart of the Hawaiian Picasso trigger, and keepers like it for its striking face markings, hardiness and bold, curious behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

500 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: shrimp, squid, mussel, clam, crab, krill and quality marine pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

Breeding

In the wild, pairs spawn in a nest dug in sand or rubble and the female guards the eggs fiercely. Captive breeding in home aquariums is basically unknown, and nearly all fish sold are wild caught.

Good to know

Not reef safe: it eats crustaceans, snails, urchins and small fish, rearranges rockwork and can bite hands. Often confused with Rhinecanthus aculeatus, which has a different face pattern and a wider range in the Indo-Pacific.