Pinktail Triggerfish

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Tropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Hawaii and French Polynesia, north to southern Japan. Inhabits seaward reefs and outer reef slopes subject to strong currents.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Belongs to the family Balistidae. Reaches a maximum size of 40 cm. It features the typical triggerfish morphology with an oval, compressed body, high-set eyes, and a lockable first dorsal spine used to anchor itself in crevices.

Social Behavior: Solitary and territorial fish. Although considered one of the least aggressive triggerfish, it shows territorial behavior as it matures and may bully slower or smaller tankmates.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Dark brown to black body contrasted by a spectacular bright pink to translucent caudal fin. The soft dorsal and anal fins are whitish to pale pink with black margins. No external sexual dimorphism.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a tank of at least 500 liters (130 gallons) with plenty of live rock arranged to form deep caves. Needs ample swimming space and strong water movement.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous diet, heavily carnivorous. Offer fresh or frozen foods: mysis, krill, whole shrimp, squid, and mussels, supplemented with nori and spirulina.

Water Quality: Demands powerful filtration and an efficient skimmer due to high waste output. Temperature 22-27°C (72-81°F), pH 7.9-8.5, specific gravity 1.020-1.026.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Reef-safe with caution. It generally ignores stony corals but will devour ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, and small fish.

Aquarium Breeding: Reproduction has not been recorded in home aquariums. In the wild, they lay eggs in sandy pits, guarding the nest aggressively.

Risks and Diseases: Susceptible to ectoparasites like Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon) under high stress. Watch your fingers during maintenance: it can bite painfully.