Xanthichthys

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Xanthichthys auromarginatus.jpg

Xanthichthys auromarginatus, Bluechin Triggerfish. Scott W. Michael

Family: Balistidae

Species in Genus Xanthichthys:

Reference: A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes
Image credit: SWM
Text credit: SWM

XANTHICHTHYS TRIGGERFISHES

These are easily the best triggerfishes for the reef aquarium. On rare occasions, these species may nip at sessile invertebrates or attack delicate crustaceans, like anemone shrimp (Periclimenes species), but most individuals will behave themselves when it comes to corals.

They are rarely aggressive toward their tankmates, unless the latter are much smaller and/or introduced to the aquarium after them. Larger individuals have been known to prey on small fishes. In larger tanks, they tend to ignore smaller fishes.

If your tank is large enough (100 gal. [380 L] or more), you can even keep them in male-female pairs (most members of the genus exhibit color differences between the sexes).