Titan Trigger

The Titan Trigger is the largest triggerfish species in the world, reaching an enormous 30 inches in the wild. Its body is yellowish-green to gray-green with dark scale margins creating a reticulated pattern, and it features a distinctive dark band across the eyes and a prominent chin area that resembles a moustache. Juveniles are more attractively patterned with brighter yellow tones and bolder markings, which is when they are most commonly offered for sale in the aquarium trade.

This species is infamous among scuba divers for its extremely aggressive nesting behavior. Female Titan Triggers guard their cone-shaped nesting territories with remarkable ferocity, readily charging and biting divers who unknowingly enter their territory. This same intense aggression carries over into captivity, where the Titan Trigger is considered one of the most dangerous fish to keep. It can and will bite its keeper, and its powerful jaws can cause painful injuries.

Due to its massive adult size and extreme aggression, the Titan Trigger requires an aquarium of at least 500 gallons and is recommended only for expert aquarists with dedicated large fish systems. It will destroy virtually all invertebrates and most tankmates that cannot withstand its aggression. Despite these challenges, juvenile Titan Triggers are strikingly beautiful and intelligent fish that develop strong bonds with their keepers, making them compelling but demanding aquarium inhabitants.