Clown Triggerfish

Balistoides conspicillum

A polka-dotted bruiser with a "lipstick" mouth. Stunning to look at – and it will rearrange your rocks and bully everyone.

An aggressive saltwater fish that grows to 40 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 24–28 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 400 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

40 cm (16 in)

Aquarium

400 L or bigger (106 US gal)

Temperament

Aggressive

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Carnivore

Wild home

Indo-Pacific outer reefs

Good to know

• Eats invertebrates. Hunts shrimp, snails and crabs.
• Coral nipper. Picks at corals, so it is no friend of a reef tank.
• Solo male. Two males of this species fight to the death.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Few species share its water and stay safe with it: it is best kept with its own kind.

Will eat: Banggai Cardinalfish, Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Coral Beauty, Firefish Goby, Flame Angelfish, Flame Hawkfish, Green Chromis, Harlequin Shrimp, Mandarin Dragonet, Neon Goby, Ocellaris Clownfish, Peacock Mantis Shrimp and 8 more.

Attacks: Achilles Tang, Aurora Moon Jelly, Banggai Cardinalfish, Blue Tang, Clarion Angelfish, Copperband Butterflyfish, Coral Beauty, Emperor Angelfish, Firefish Goby, Flame Angelfish, Flame Hawkfish, Flower Hat Jelly and 24 more.

Colours

• Classic epic

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.