All fish / Balistidae

Blackbelly Triggerfish

Rhinecanthus verrucosus

Also known as blackpatch triggerfish, black belly triggerfish, bursa picasso trigger, blackbelly picasso triggerfish, verrucosus trigger, picasso triggerfish, humu humu, ムラサメモンガラ, ikan pakol, 黑腹鳞鲀, 疣鳞鲀, 黑肚炮弹

A Picasso-type triggerfish with a tan back, pale underside, blue and yellow lines around the eye and a large black patch on the belly. It is kept for its striking pattern, bold personality and hardiness once settled.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

500 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: Seychelles and Chagos to Indonesia, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu

Breeding

Pairs spawn demersal eggs in a nest dug in sand, which the female guards fiercely. It has rarely if ever been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

Not reef safe: it eats crustaceans, snails and small fish and can bite through tubing. It often turns aggressive towards other triggers and similar-looking tankmates as it grows.