Blue Throat Trigger Fish
Updated August 5, 2019
Author: Mike - FishLore Admin
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The Blue Throat Trigger fish goes also by the common names of Blue Chin Triggerfish and Gilded Triggerfish. Blue Throat Triggerfish have gray bodies and the males sport the blue throat and have yellow along the fin borders whereas the females lack the blue throat and yellow bordering on the fins. See the male/female pictures below.
The Blue Throat Trigger fish is considered to be one of the least aggressive of the triggers and that is one of the reasons for their popularity in the aquarium trade. Cost wise they go anywhere from $40 to $60 with the males usually being slightly more expensive. These triggers can be considered quite hardy and are usually easy to get eating most fish foods. Standard saltwater aquarium foods like a good pellet food (like New Life Spectrum pellets) supplemented with frozen foods will do nicely.
In the wild the Blue Throat Triggerfish likes to eat copepods so if you have a refugium setup that has lots of these pods your triggers will love you for it. They sometimes go after smaller shrimps and hermit crabs. I'm not sure if they are interested in eating them (never witnessed it) or just playing with them. They are very personable, seriously. The triggers remind me of the freshwater oscars with their personalities. I've kept a male/female blue trigger duo for some time now and they always greet me when I come to the front of the tank, begging for food.
One interesting fun fact about them is that they like to lock themselves into a rock to bunk down for the night, usually upside down. They also like to make a grunting or clicking sound (infrequently) at night that is audible outside the tank.
A good tight fitting hood is needed because if they get spooked they might do some carpet surfing.
Blue Throat Triggerfish Care
Scientific Name : Xanthichthys auromarginatus
Common Names : Blue Jaw Triggerfish, Blue Chin Triggerfish
Care Level : Easy to moderate
Size : Up to 12 inches (30 cm)
Life span : 8 years, likely longer
Water Parameters : standard saltwater parameters - pH 8.1 - 8.4, Temperature : 76°F - 82°F (24°C - 28°C), Specific Gravity : 1.021 - 1.025, Carbonate Hardness (dKH) : 8 - 12° Even though studies have show their tolerance to lower oxygen levels, keep your tank well aerated.
Origin / Habitat : Indo-Pacific, East Africa to Hawaii
Temperament / Behavior : For triggers, these could be considered one of the more docile but they can still act like most other triggers occasionally.
Breeding : they are nest builders and males will guard the eggs until they hatch. Not much info on actual breeding attempts in the home aquarium.
Aquarium Size : 120 gallon minimum
Tank Mates : These triggers may become more aggressive as they grow. Similar sized species should do fine with the Blue Throat Trigger but watch the smaller shrimps and other crustaceans.
Diet / Foods : Primary diet in the wild is copepods. They are voracious eaters though and will go after nearly everything you put in the tank. Get a good pellet (new life spectrum for example) food, supplement with defrosted frozen foods (rod's foods for example) and they will do well. They also will eat dry seaweed if you have tangs in the tank with them and they tend to pull off the veggie clip from the tank wall.
Tank Region : All over, but like to cruise the top of the tank a lot
Gender : This is one of the easier species to identify male from female. Males will have the blue throat (or chin if you prefer) and their fins will be outlined in yellow. Females lack the blue throat and yellow outlined fins
Forum : Triggerfish Forum
Photo Credit : Photos copyright JJPhoto.dk
References :
Michael, S. W. (2001). Marine Fishes, 500+ Essential to Know Aquarium Species. T.F.H. Publications.
More Triggerfish Profiles
Picasso Triggerfish
This is an amazing looking triggerfish and this triggerfish is one of the more easy going of the trigger fishes but it can still become dangerous in a tank full of smaller aquarium fish and invertebrates.
Pink Tail Triggerfish
The Pink Tail Trigger is just like other triggers when it comes to modifying the rock work to their liking. Keep this in mind if you have any loose fitting rocks to prevent damage to your fish tank, corals and fish.