Blue Throat Triggerfish

The Blue Throat Triggerfish is widely regarded as the most reef-friendly triggerfish species, making it a favorite among reef aquarists who want the personality and intelligence of a trigger without the destructive tendencies. Males display a striking grayish-blue body with golden-edged scales and a vivid blue throat patch, while females are more subdued in coloration with a lighter body and yellow-edged tail. Both sexes exhibit the characteristic trigger mechanism dorsal spine.

Unlike most triggerfish that inhabit the reef itself, the Blue Throat Triggerfish is a mid-water planktivore that naturally occurs in small groups along steep outer reef walls and drop-offs, often at considerable depths. This pelagic feeding strategy means it poses far less risk to corals and sessile invertebrates than bottom-feeding triggerfish species, though caution is still warranted with small ornamental crustaceans.

In the aquarium, the Blue Throat Triggerfish is hardy, personable, and relatively peaceful for a triggerfish. It quickly learns to recognize its keeper and will often greet aquarists at the glass during feeding time. It accepts all manner of prepared foods with gusto. This species can be kept as a male-female pair in larger systems, creating an attractive and interactive display. Its combination of beauty, intelligence, and relative reef compatibility makes it one of the most desirable triggerfish for the home aquarium.