All fish / Balistidae

Halfmoon Triggerfish

Sufflamen chrysopterum

Also known as halfmoon trigger, flagtail triggerfish, flagtail trigger, bridled triggerfish, yellowfin triggerfish, whitetail triggerfish, no, ツマジロモンガラ, 金鳍鼓气鳞鲀, 黄鳍钩鳞鲀

This is a smallish, fairly drab triggerfish with a brown body, a pale or bluish belly, a yellowish line behind the eye and a white-edged tail that shows a crescent shape. Aquarists keep it because it is one of the calmer triggers, it stays a manageable size and it has the bold, inquisitive character typical of the family.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

22 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

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

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs in a nest dug in sand or rubble, and the female guards the clutch until it hatches. It has not been bred in home aquariums in any meaningful way.

Good to know

It is not safe with reefs because it eats crabs, shrimp, snails and urchins, and it may nip small, slow fish. It has strong teeth, can bite hands, and may rearrange rockwork, so secure the aquascape.