There are many species of trigger fish who belongs to the Balistidae family. They live in shallow water near coral reef except for the oceanic triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata) who's spend his life in the blue.
 Oceanic triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata) |  Titan Triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) |
The most know, specially for his aggressive behavior against divers, is the Titan Triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens). They are in fact protecting their eggs.
Female will lay their eggs few days before new and full moon after male and female will perform some prespawnings behavior like blowing and touching, to create their nest on sandy or rocky area. They will blow water to create a hole in the floor where the female will lays his eggs. The male will protect and defend the territory from any species swimming too close, and also from the other male triggerfish. Generally, a male will fecund the eggs of few females within his territory.
Female will lay their eggs few days before new and full moon after male and female will perform some prespawnings behavior like blowing and touching, to create their nest on sandy or rocky area. They will blow water to create a hole in the floor where the female will lays his eggs. The male will protect and defend the territory from any species swimming too close, and also from the other male triggerfish. Generally, a male will fecund the eggs of few females within his territory.
 The impressive tooth of the titan triggerfish |   |
They are known to attack diver who are swimming too close to their nest, and a common diver mistake would be to escape them by shallowing up. Their territory is in a cone shape from the nest getting bigger while going up. So the good reaction would be to swim away horizontal to get out of their zone quickly, keeping our fins in the direction of the fish to avoid any harm.
Another good way to avoid any attack would be to observe their change of behavior.
They would rise their dorsal fin first, then lean on one side as a last warning, then finally if we are getting even closer to them, they will swim towards us trying to bite whatever they can catch.
This generally happen only when they are keeping an eye on their eggs...
Another good way to avoid any attack would be to observe their change of behavior.
They would rise their dorsal fin first, then lean on one side as a last warning, then finally if we are getting even closer to them, they will swim towards us trying to bite whatever they can catch.
This generally happen only when they are keeping an eye on their eggs...
 Clown triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum) |  The beautiful "body painting" of the clown triggerfish |
Another trigger fish we love is the clown triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum) with its white dots on the lower part of the body and its yellow blotch on the back and the face.
They are less common than the titan, the redtooth or the yellow margin, but still can be found in the archipelago.
They are less common than the titan, the redtooth or the yellow margin, but still can be found in the archipelago.
Redtooth triggerfish
The redtooth triggerfish (Odonus niger) live specially on our pinnacle and like when there is current.
They will go and hide in cracks and little cavities to rest. They form school and eat mainly plankton.
They will go and hide in cracks and little cavities to rest. They form school and eat mainly plankton.
Yellowmargin triggerfish (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus)
The yellowmargin triggerfish (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus) is also very common in the archipelago. It lives in coral reefs and can grow up to 60 cm.
A titan triggerfish on the blue...
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