Redtoothed Triggerfish

Triggerfish Galleries

Redtoothed Triggerfish - Origins

The Redtoothed Triggerfish is also known as the Niger Triggerfish, the Black Triggerfish, the Blue Triggerfish and the Purple Triggerfish.  The color varies from blue to purple to black, even on the same specimen and the teeth are reddish. It lives in reef channels and areas of strong current in the central and western Pacific and in the Red Sea. 

Redtoothed Triggerfish - Anatomy

The Redtoothed Triggerfish has a distinctive lyre tail.  Triggerfish have a double dorsal fin with a large spine or trigger in the front area of the fin. It uses the spine to lock itself into rocks and corals where it sleeps for the night, well protected from predators. 

Redtoothed Triggerfish - Feeding

In the wild, the Redtoothed Trigger feeds mainly on mollusks and crabs.  The Redtoothed Trigger can be fed regular live, frozen and flake foods. This can include squid, shrimp, krill, mussels, pieces of fish, starfish, sea urchins, shellfish and small fish. Their diet can be supplemented with spirulina, algae, dried seaweed and quality flake foods. Although it doesn't eat coral, it is known to damage them.  Triggerfish use their mouths to blow over invertebrates and attack them in their soft undersides. They can be very aggressive when eating.  Be careful, as they will bite hands.  The tank should be a minimum of 75 - 100 gallons.  It should have plenty of places to hide plus open areas for swimming.

Redtoothed Triggerfish - Breeding

Redtoothed Triggers are very resistant to disease.  There are no known sexual differences.  Redtoothed Triggers are egg layers and they are not bred in captivity.