All fish / Balistidae

Boomerang Triggerfish

Sufflamen bursa

Also known as scythe triggerfish, bursa triggerfish, lei triggerfish, white-lined triggerfish, boomerang trigger, bursa trigger, pink-tail trigger, ムスメハギ, 黑带鳞鲀, 项带多棘鳞鲀

A fairly small, greyish brown triggerfish with a pale belly, a white line running from the mouth to the anal fin, and two curved bars behind the eye that can be yellow or dark brown. Hobbyists like it because it is one of the calmer triggers, stays a manageable size and is hardy once settled.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific: East Africa and Red Sea to Hawaii and the Marquesas, north to Japan, south to Australia

Breeding

In the wild pairs spawn in a nest on sand or rubble and the female guards the eggs. It has not been bred regularly in home aquariums.

Good to know

Not reef safe, as it will eat crabs, shrimps, snails, urchins and worms and may nip corals or clams. Keep only with robust fish of similar size and give plenty of rockwork to hide in.