Niger Trigger

Niger Trigger 

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QUICK STATS

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Care Level: Easy

Temperament:

Reef Compatible: No

Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025

Max. Size: Small: 1" to 2"; Medium: 2" to 3-1/2"; Large: 3-1/2" to 5"

Diet: Carnivorous

Origin:

Family:

The Niger Trigger or Redtooth Trigger is a striking fish for the home aquarium. The exact color of the Niger Triggerfish varies in this species of fish, and can also change from day to day between purple, blue and blue/green with a striking, lighter blue highlight on the fins and long tail lobes. The lighting also plays a role in the coloration of any fish in the home aquarium. As an adult, they acquire bright red teeth, and are normally dark purple in color with a blue/green highlight around their face making them quite interesting to watch when they eat.
Like many triggers, this species can be quite shy when first placed in the tank, but usually becomes very bold over time. One of the least aggressive of the triggers, most individuals can be kept housed in a community aquarium with similarly-sized fishes. You should add your niger trigger to the tank after the more passive species have settled in. Provide this fish with suitable hiding places, like a piece of branching or foliose coral or a chunk of live rock with an appropriate-sized hole for it to retreat into if threatened. 
A 70 gallon or larger aquarium with rocks and caves provides a good habitat. It will rearrange the landscaping and rocks as it wanders in and out of the caves. It vocalizes using a "grunting" sound. 
Feed a varied diet of meaty foods. including; squid, krill, clams, small fish and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth. Feed young individuals several times a day.
Not suitable for a reef aquarium as it feeds on a wide-range of invertebrates.