The Clown triggerfish is considered by many to be among the most beautiful of the (Balistoides conspicillum) family, due to their attractive and unique coloration. The top half of the fish is mostly black with a yellow patch containing black shapes. The bottom half is black with large white spots. Their lips are bright orange, hence the name “clown” triggerfish. There is a narrow white stripe around the mouth and another white stripe below the eyes. There is a vertical white stripe on the caudal fin. The clown triggerfish has two dorsal spines, one large and one small.
The Clown Triggerfish is also known as the big spotted triggerfish is one of the most highly prized saltwater aquarium fish. The Clown Triggerfish comes from coral reefs of the Indo-West Pacific and was given its name because of the first dorsal fin that is used to lock the fish in place when it takes cover in between rocks or crevices.
The Clown Triggerfish is reasonably easy to keep in a 180 gallon fish only aquarium, but beware, Clown triggerfish are equipped with sharp teeth and can bite if they feel threatened by you. Bites can be painful.
They are not reef safe and should not be kept in reef aquariums. They will eat invertebrates and can damage or tip over corals when they try to rearrange the décor. It has strong jaws which can be used to crush and eat sea urchins, crustaceans and hard-shelled mollusks.
Clown Triggers are also territorial, so it is best to keep only one in the tank and care should be taken in selecting its tank mates, choosing other aggressive, large fish. Clown Triggers are among the more aggressive triggers, so consider a Picasso Trigger for your first purchase of triggerfish.
Diet: They will accept most every fish food that you put into the tank but you need to give them a varied diet of chopped frozen seafood, frozen preparations for herbivores, frozen mysis and frozen krill.
