Fun Bluethroat Triggerfish Facts For Kids
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Are you interested in learning about different fishes like cory catfish? In this article, we will learn about the bluethroat triggerfish (Xanthichthys auromarginatus).
Blue throat triggerfish are also known by the names, gilded triggerfish, blue jaw triggerfish, and blue chin triggerfish. All these names have been given to this species due to the vibrant and striking blue patch present near the throat of a male blue throat fish.
The blue throat or the blue jaw, like most triggerfish, has the ability to keep its dorsal spines fully erect. This species has its origin in the Indo-Pacific Ocean where it lives in open bottoms and feeds on a variety of plankton.
The male and female differ from each other in appearance. The male has a distinctive blue patch while this patch is missing in the female but what makes it attractive is its grayish white spots.
The blue chin fish also has yellow bordered fins. These yellow fins provide a stark contrast to their blue bodies and make them appear to be very attractive.
The blue chin fish can be easily kept in a tank as a pet and can be fed normal aquarium foods. They are believed to be reef safe but due to their semi aggressive nature, their suitable tank mates would be similar sized fish.
Keep reading to find out more about this fascinating reef fish. If you enjoy reading about the marine world and the blue-throat triggerfish, be sure to check out dogfish shark and catfish.
Bluethroat Triggerfish Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a bluethroat triggerfish?
A bluethroat triggerfish is a type of fish.
What class of animal does a bluethroat triggerfish belong to?
The bluethroat triggerfish belongs to the class Actinopterygii and the family Balistidae. It is part of the genus Sufflamen.
How many bluethroat triggerfish are there in the world?
There have not been enough studies conducted to calculate the total free population of bluethroat triggerfish in the world.
Where does a bluethroat triggerfish live?
The bluethroat triggerfish can be found in the Indo-Pacific, Hawaiian Islands, east Africa, and New Caledonia in the wild. This fish is also found in an aquarium (care level easy).
What is a bluethroat triggerfish's habitat?
The bluethroat triggerfish can be found in open bottoms with lots of corals at a depth range of 6.5-65.6 ft (2-20m). They prefer deep offshore reefs which have lots of currents on top of walls. They can be kept in captivity in tanks, with a minimum tank size of 75 gal (283.9 L).
Who do bluethroat triggerfish live with?
Bluethroat triggerfish are mostly solitary in nature, both in the wild as well as in captivity. They form loose groups at times. At times, they also get together to meet at mating grounds with other members of their species.
How long does a bluethroat triggerfish live?
A bluethroat triggerfish can live up to eight years or perhaps even more than that inside an aquarium.
How do they reproduce?
The eggs are laid by the female bluethroat triggerfish on the substrate and are later fertilized by the male. The role of guarding the eggs is undertaken by the females. They ensure that the eggs are saved from various predators. Females may act aggressively while protecting the eggs on the substrate.
What is their conservation status?
The bluethroat triggerfish is Not Evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN. However, their population seems to be stable and the minimum population doubling time for this reef fish is about 15 months.
Bluethroat Triggerfish Fun Facts
What do bluethroat triggerfish look like?
The bluethroat triggerfish is grayish brown in color and has striking blue spots on its body and bluish metallic rings around its eyes. The males and females differ in appearance. The fins of the males have a bright yellow border.
This yellow border on the fins provides a great contrast with the blue spots. They also have a distinct blue splash running across their jaw. The color on the male's body intensifies as they age.
How cute are they?
These spotted and colorful triggerfish appear to be attractive and are quite pleasing to the eyes. When kept in aquariums, their bright blue color makes them stand apart.
How do they communicate?
Bluethroat triggerfish (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) appear to many like they are talking but it is actually a grunting sound that they make. Triggerfish, like the bluethroat triggerfish, are known to communicate through producing sounds and they use different sonic mechanisms.
More research needs to be conducted but some studies suggest that triggerfish produce sounds while feeding. These can be a result of the collision of their buccal teeth.
How big is a bluethroat triggerfish?
A bluethroat triggerfish can have a length of up to 11.8 in (30 cm). A bluethroat triggerfish is about two and half times smaller than the Titan triggerfish, which is the biggest triggerfish in the world. The bluethroat triggerfish is, however, slightly smaller than a clown tiger fish.
How fast can a bluethroat triggerfish move?
There has not been enough research conducted to calculate the speed of a bluethroat triggerfish.
How much does a bluethroat triggerfish weigh?
A bluethroat triggerfish (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) weighs about 1 lb (0.5 kg).
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no unique names to identify male and female species of bluethroat triggerfish (Xanthichthys auromarginatus).
What would you call a baby bluethroat triggerfish?
A bluethroat triggerfish baby can be referred to as fry.
What do they eat?
In the wild and free marine waters, the bluethroat triggerfish diet (carnivore) mainly comprises plankton. They consume a large number of copepods which are small crustaceans that are free swimming in the ocean. At times, bluethroat triggerfish can also be found feeding and searching for foods from the substrate.
Are they poisonous?
The bluethroat triggerfish is not venomous in nature, unlike garfish. They are absolutely harmless to human beings.
In case of an emergency, where you do get bit and medical attention isn't available, do not panic. Washing the affected area with clean water, applying isopropyl alcohol, and an ointment should take care of the bite. However, it is always best to consult a doctor and seek proper medication.
Would they make a good pet?
The bluethroat triggerfish (care level easy) can be kept as pets in captivity. They do require proper attention and care as they tend to jump out of the tanks for treats.
The minimum tank size requirement for this reef fish is about 75 gal (283.9 L). The water should have a pH of 8.1-8.4.
They are semi aggressive in nature and will make for an interesting choice in the aquarium. Their suitable tank mates include similar-sized fish. They consume a diet of meaty foods like crustaceans and fish flesh.
Other meaty foods like clams, squids, krill, and small fish can also be consumed by them. During their feeding time, be careful to not use your hands too much and practice feeding them with tongs.
Bluethroat triggerfish should be fed two to three times a day. If they are properly fed, they might even refuse hermit crabs, ornamental shrimps, and not even nip at corals inside the aquarium.
Did you know...
Bluethroat triggerfish can be easily spotted on remote offshore reefs in the Tanzanian coastal waters.
When keeping bluethroat triggerfish in the aquarium, it is advised to not keep more than one male blue throat triggerfish as it might lead to some aggression problems.
A bluethroat triggerfish can often be seen rearranging the landscape and the rocks inside the aquarium.
These fish are semi-aggressive in nature and are not compatible living with fish like batfish, sharks and rays, basslets, cardinalfish, anglers, and frogfish inside the aquarium.
Are they reef safe?
The blue throat triggerfish is considered to be reef safe by most people. If they are well fed with a varied diet of meaty foods, they are unlikely to nip at corals or even consume small crustaceans like ornamental shrimps.
Large bluethroat triggerfish, on the other hand, may feed on small crustaceans even when well fed inside an aquarium. It is best to not keep too many small crustaceans with your blue jaw triggerfish.
Where do they get their name from?
The bluethroat triggerfish gets its name from the vibrant, striking blue patch on its throat. It is also known as the blue jaw triggerfish owing to the same blue patch. The females, however, do not have this striking blue throat but have a gray blue color and grayish-white spots on its body.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fishes from our swai fish facts and skate fish facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable bluethroat triggerfish coloring pages.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
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