This has got to be the most creatively designed fish! What an incredible combination of patterns, and fun colors! The Clown Triggerfish or Big-spotted Triggerfish just makes you want to smile!

The Clown Triggerfish or Big-spotted Triggerfish is one of the most spectacular looking marine species. The round spots on the lower side of the body and the ‘cigar’ lips give it the name ‘Clown’.

Like all triggers, they need lots of space, a cave or rocks to retreat into, and house them with other appropriate fish that have similar needs and can hold their own. These guys are usually expensive but are very hardy once they are eating well. They are worth every bit of the price because of the unique appearance they will give your aquarium!

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Tetraodontiformes
Family:Balistidae
Genus:Balistoides
Species: conspicillum

Maintenance difficulty

   The Clown Triggerfish or Big-spotted Triggerfish is easy to keep. Triggers are among the hardiest of all marine fish.

Maintenance

   Feed all kinds of live, frozen, and flake foods. Best to feed small amounts several times a day. We generally feed squid, shrimp (the same kind people eat), mussels, and all kinds of chopped up fish.

Clown Triggerfish underwater
Image Credit: Halawi, Shutterstock

Habitat: Natural geographic location

   Clown Triggerfish or Big-spotted Triggerfish are found in the Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Durban, South Africa and east through Indonesia to Samoa, north to southern Japan and south to New Caledonia. Lives in clear coastal to outer reef habitats. Occurs in clear seaward reefs adjacent to steep drop-offs. A solitary species. Uncommon to rare throughout most of its range. Adults usually seen along deep drop-offs, swimming about openly and may retreat to caves when approached. Juveniles secretive in small caves with rich invertebrate growth.

Foods

   In the wild, the clown triggerfish diet consists of sea urchins, crabs and other crustaceans, mollusks, and tunicates. In the aquarium they should be fed all kinds of meaty marine foods, cut up fish, shrimp, squid, etc.

Social Behaviors

   Aggressive, do not keep with smaller fish. Do not keep with invertebrates!

Sexual differences

   Unknown.

Recommended light levels

   No special requirements.

Temperature

   No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine fish is between 74 and 79 degrees fahrenheit.

Clown Triggerfish in aquarium
Image Credit: iliuta goean, Shutterstock

Length/Diameter of fish

   Clown Triggerfish or Big-spotted Triggerfish adults can grow to 50.0 cm (20 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size

   A minimum 100 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong

   No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom

   No special requirements.

Availability

   This fish is available from time to time.

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Featured Image Credit: Ian Scott, Shutterstock