Not Clowning Around
The Clown Trigger, (Balistoides conspicillum) is a member of the family Balistidae (the triggerfish family). Adult Clown Triggers can reach a record length of almost 20 inches, and are a stark black colored fish with white spots ventrally, and yellow around the mouth and under the dorsal fin on the back of the fish. The Clown Trigger's coloration results in it being one of the most easily recognized and most popular fish in the marine aquarium trade.
Clown Triggers are commonly found throughout the Indo-Pacific ocean from the Eastern coast of Africa all the way to Southern Japan and South Pacific islands such as Tonga. Adults and juveniles are solitary animals, but live in different habitats. Juveniles usually stay close to their home, a small hole in dense coral or reef rock, with adults living more frequently in deeper water, on the seaward side of clear reefs and sometimes moving up to the reef crest.
When designing an aquarium for a Clown Trigger, the most important element to consider is the adult size; while they have a record size of over 19 inches that is unlikely to be encountered, regardless they are very likely to attain a length of 12 to 14 inches or more in your aquarium! A big tank is a must, and ideally the final home for a clown trigger would be an aquarium that has at least four feet of length and width. Long term a Clown Trigger shouldn’t be housed in anything smaller than 240 gallons, more ideally 480 gallons or larger. These fish grow relatively slowly, but being cramped can negatively effect their health, and they are inquisitive animals who enjoy exploring and interacting with their environment. Plenty of caves and rock should be used especially for juveniles. These fish will use their powerful jaws and teeth to move décor around the aquarium, so be prepared for that. The larger Clown Triggers get, the less afraid they are – and more likely to be aggressive towards other fish. A large tank is a must, and tankmates should be chosen carefully. A bite from a triggerfish can inflict a lot of damage quickly.
Clown Triggers are notoriously easy to feed, and can be trained to feed from an aquarists hands – just don’t forget about those big teeth, they can hurt you too! Meaty foods are a must here, whole fish such as silversides, invertebrates such as shrimp, clams, mussels etc are all good foods that help to replicate their natural diet. When they are smaller frozen foods like brine shrimp, mysis and krill will also be accepted, along with the above provided it is cut down into mouth sized portions for the fish. They need to wear down their teeth, so offering shelled items is not only a form of great enrichment to keep them entertained but it is good for their dental health as well. Supplementing their diet with enriching solutions, algae, and a quality pellet to round out the nutrition profile is also a good idea.
Captive raised Clown Triggers were first sold in 2015 by Quality Marine; these fish were not spawned in captivity but raised from captive hatched, wild collected eggs. Breeding in the wild occurs over coral rubble and sand, after the eggs are laid the parents will defend the nest site. Other triggerfish have been bred, and while this is possible it would require a very large aquarium, some good luck with the fish, and a large amount of resources dedicated to rearing the fry.
Clown Triggers have a huge personality and iconic coloration / markings, they are very hardy and adapt to captivity well. Conversely, they do have demanding needs as far as aquarium size, feeding, and filtration are concerned. That said, there are few wet pets that will live as long as a dog, and have the personality to match. Clown Triggers over time will learn to recognize you and come to greet you as you approach the aquarium as they hope for a snack! If you have the room, and are looking for a showpiece predator, there aren't too many fish in the world that can match up to a clown trigger. Ask your local fish store to order a sustainably sourced Clown Trigger from Quality Marine today!