Balistapus undulatus
| Common Names: | Green Triggerfish Orange Striped Triggerfish Orange-Emerald Triggerfish Undulate Triggerfish |
| Synonyms: | None known |
| Family: | Balistidae |
| Category: | Tetradontiforms |
| Distribution: | Indo Pacific; Indo-Pacific |
| Main Ecosystem: | Reef; Reef |
| Temperament: | Aggressive; The species is the most aggressive and highly territorial of all the Triggerfishes. In the aquarium, it MUST be kept in an aquarium on its own, as it will attack other fishes. |
| Diet: | Carnivore; Like all Triggerfishes, this fish will eat crustaceans, molluscs and sea urchins. It can NOT be kept in a reef aquarium as it will devour many reef aquarium invertebrates. Large specimens are capable of cracking open small clams! |
| Care: | This fish is among the hardiest of all marine coral reef fishes (a trait it shares with other Triggerfishes). One point to note is that sensitivity to high concentrations of aluminium slats in the water has been reported with this and other Triggers (courtesy of Graham. F. Cox). Should be kept in a fish-only or FOWLR aquarium, with no crustaceans or molluscs to tempt it as it will devour these on sight. |
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| Potential Size: | Male: 30cm (11.8") Female: 30cm (11.8") |
| Water Region: | Middle, Bottom; Usually occupies the middle and lower regions of the aquarium. |
| Activity: | Diurnal; Diurnal |
| Gender: | No obvious external gender differences known. |
| Breeding: | Unknown in the aquarium, and given its extreme pugnacity toward other fishes in the aquarium, unlikely to occur even in large public aquaria. |
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| Comments: | A beautiful, large impressive show fish, but one that needs care on the part of the keeper, as its mouthparts, designed as they are for cracking open the shells of substantial molluscs, can inflict severe wounds on the arms of a careless aquarist during aquarium maintenance! Very definitely a 'personality fish', but one that may best be described as 'psychotic' in the presence of other fishes! Relatively slow moving but stately in appearance when large. |
| Main Colours: | Green, Orange |
| Markings: | Striped Horizontal |
| Mouth: | Normal |
| Tail: | Flat |
| Search: | Show similar species Find compatible species |
| Image Credit: | © FishProfiles.com |
| Submitted By: | Calilasseia |
| Contributors: | sirbooks |
| History: | View changes to this profile |
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