Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)
Fish in the family Balistidae. Expert care. Not Reef Safe.
Quick facts
Appearance
The Clown Triggerfish is a large, robust fish with a distinctive appearance featuring a white to pale body with irregular black spots and patches. It has a prominent black head with characteristic white-ringed eyes and a white mouth area, creating a striking "clown-like" facial pattern. The dorsal and anal fins are bright yellow-orange.
Diet and feeding
Feed high-quality carnivorous foods including meaty items such as shrimp, squid, fish, and marine flesh. Triggerfish are voracious eaters; offer varied foods 1–2 times daily to promote natural foraging behavior and reduce aggression.
Difficulty and care for the Clown Triggerfish
The Clown Triggerfish is an expert-level species due to its highly aggressive and territorial nature, destructive feeding behavior, and specialized environmental requirements. It will harass or consume most tank mates and damage corals and live rock.
Common health issues
Parasitic infections (ich, cryptocaryon), bacterial infections, poor water quality sensitivity, jaw protrusion, nutritional deficiencies if diet is inadequate
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and East Africa through the Indo-Australian Archipelago to Hawaii and the Great Barrier Reef, typically found in coral reef environments at depths of 5–50 meters.
Log Clown Triggerfish in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Clown Triggerfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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