All fish / Balistidae

Bluechin Triggerfish

Xanthichthys auromarginatus

Also known as blue chin triggerfish, gilded triggerfish, blue-throat triggerfish, bluethroat trigger, golden-margin triggerfish, bluechin trigger, アカモンガラ, 金边砗磲鲀, 黄边鳞鲀

A greyish blue trigger covered in rows of small pale spots, with yellow edges to the fins; males also have a bright blue chin patch. It feeds on plankton in open water, so it is one of the calmer triggerfish and is kept as a colourful, active centrepiece that is usually safer with corals than other triggers.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

450 litres

Keep as

Single fish or a mated pair; one male per tank

Diet

Carnivore: zooplankton-type foods such as mysis, krill, chopped seafood and quality marine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii, mostly on outer reef slopes

Breeding

In the wild pairs spawn in a nest on the bottom and the male guards the eggs. Captive breeding is very rarely reported in home aquariums.

Good to know

It may still pick at small crustaceans and harass very small or timid fish, and it needs plenty of open swimming room. Males and females look different, so two males should not be housed together.