Complete information on how to care for Picasso's Triggerfish

Picasso Triggerfish is a beautiful fish that comes in many colors and distinctive shapes. They are also very active, which makes them a much more attractive alternative for aquariums.

However, these fish are quite territorial, which can be difficult for some beginner aquarists.

Luckily, the Picasso Triggerfish is definitely one of the less complicated crawfish species to care for; There are strategies to deal with their aggression.

We will cover all the essentials when researching Picasso Triggerfish in this article.

Picasso Triggerfish Data & Overview

Picasso triggerfish is commonly known by its scientific name Rhinecanthus aculeatus. However, it has many different names, like The Lagoon Triggerfish and The Blackbar Triggerfish.

In Hawaii, the species is called Muhumunukunucuapa'a (or Humu Humu means fleeting), suggesting “a triggerfish with nostrils like a pig”. This title is shared with the state fish of Hawaii – the Rectangular Triggerfish.

The Picasso bullfish is a member of the family Balistidae, which includes all species of bullfish (about 40 species).

These saltwater fish are found throughout the Indo-Pacific, primarily Hawaii, Polynesia, and the Philippines. Right here, it lives on shallow reef habitats, using rocks and corals as shelter.

These are quite expensive fish, however their value can vary quite a bit. They can be worth up to $125, so make sure you get a healthy specific one by looking at it for a while before buying.

A healthy Picasso Triggerfish will live about 10 years.

Typical habits

Compared to other crawfish species, this is definitely one of the less complicated species when it comes to dealing with aggression.

They are territorial and aggressive, but you can manage this by providing plenty of shelter and hiding places. Tank mate choice can also be very important.

They can eat invertebrates, so this species is simply not reef safe.

Be careful when putting your fingers in the tank because the Picasso triggerfish can also chew on you. They often try to fend off divers in their pure habitat.

They are active throughout the day and can occupy all levels of the water column.

They may shift the spherical points in your tank slightly if the decorations are not firmly secured to the surface.

Another issue to focus on is noise. In case you concentrate hard, you will most likely hear your triggerfish grumbling. They try to talk this way, often aggressively.

Look

It's easy to see why this fish was named after the famous Spanish painter. Picasso Triggerfish combines color and shape in a novel and captivating way.

They have giant oval bodies that can reach 10-12 inches when fully grown. It's also compressed horizontally, showing up quite flat.

Their bodies are mostly tan with dark bands on the back and a white belly. They have shiny blue/black stripes on their head and a yellow stripe running from their mouth to the top of their head.

Their heads get smaller as they reach the mouth where there is a mouth with strong jaws designed to break down shells and coral. Their small eyes are once again more prominent and located at the top.

There are huge dorsal and anal fins at the back next to the caudal fin that undulate to create movement. The tail fin is only affected when they need to dart away to escape predators.

Gender determination of Picasso Triggerfish can also be very strong. Males are usually slightly larger than females, however this can be difficult to judge.

Habitat and tank circumstances

You will naturally spot Picasso Triggerfish throughout the Indo-Pacific. They reside on shallow coral reefs around Hawaii, Tahiti, Kiribati, Polynesia and the Philippines.

There can be a lot of gentle movement and water in these areas, but there are also many rocks and corals that form caves to hide from these conditions or aggressive fish.

They can claim a territory and actively defend it. Most of their time will probably be spent right here but they may wander in search of food.

Salt water is most likely warm and alkaline.

The more your aquarium resembles their natural habitat, the happier your Picasso Trigger Fish will be.

Tank situation

Use residence stone to create some structures and caves to claim as territory. Do not use coral, Picasso Triggerfish are not reef safe and can cause many injuries.

Fix the points right down on the sand as this species is known to move the points spherically.

Just be sure to swim home a lot as these species are very active and can go through the entire tank.

The Picasso Triggerfish's preferred water environment is quite common for saltwater aquariums.

Use a heater to achieve a temperature between 76°F and 82°F and use aquarium salt to create a given weight of 1.021-1.025. The pH should be between 8.1 and 8.4.

The aquarium must be properly lit and have good circulation, so you will most likely have to spend money on a water pump or filter with a strong outlet.

What size tank do they need?

Providing plenty of home is important to make your Picasso Triggerfish comfortable in your aquarium, however, it certainly also helps reduce aggression.

The minimum tank size is 100 gallons, however, larger tanks will reduce the risk of more severe outbreaks.

Tank mate

Even though they are calmer than most crawfish, Picasso Triggerfish are still aggressive and territorial. There are many ways to solve this problem, but it is certainly not possible to completely eliminate these behaviors.

They are often added to local aquariums, however the choice of tank mates can be very important.

Another fish should be aggressive so that people can defend themselves. Don't choose small fish; they could soon be eaten if they fit snugly into the Picasso Triggerfish's mouth.

You might want to try things like Lionfish, Snowflake Eels, and Surgeonfish (which are about the same size).

These fish are not reef safe – protect them from the coral.

However, it's not just coral, you have to avoid all invertebrates. Creatures like shrimp can be considered snacks because invertebrates make up the majority of Picasso Triggerfish's natural weight loss program.

Can you maintain Picasso Triggerfish together?

Protect only one Picasso Triggerfish per tank, otherwise you risk accentuating their territorial nature even more.

Some people have tried to maintain a couple by introducing them as minors, however it's definitely not worth the risk.

Weight loss plan

Picasso Triggerfish are largely carnivores, so they need a lot of protein-filled meaty foods.

In the wild, they can hunt invertebrates such as clams, shrimp, and snails. Usually they will settle for larger meals like squid.

Replicate these eating habits at home, not only to create a healthy diet but also to help improve their tooth enamel.

Picasso Triggerfish yeast are increasing so they must regularly eat hard-shelled organisms to maintain a good size.

You can choose between live and frozen foods; are all very nutritious options. However, vary your diet as much as possible to create a variety of vitamins that will help keep them stronger.

It is essential to feed them small portions for 2-3 meals a day.

Take care of

As soon as an aquarium with enough of their favorite species and acceptable tank mates has been chosen and introduced, Picasso Triggerfish are quite easy to care for.

With basic tank maintenance (extensive water amendments, etc.) and a nutritious diet, they must be very happy with their environment.

Be careful when inserting your fingers into the tank to clean, this species is known to chew as soon as they really feel threatened.

In a clear tank, disease is probably rare, but Picasso Triggerfish can still deal with common saltwater diseases. They are healthy fish that respond well to treatment.

Isolate them in a separate tank for treatment. You should also quarantine newly purchased fish a few weeks earlier before introducing them to your setup.

livestock

There has been little success breeding Picasso Triggerfish in residence. Even raising wild-caught fry proves to be strong, so there is no need for too many stages in breeding your fish.

Industrial action has achieved more results.

In the wild, males will have a large territory that can accommodate many females. Each female will have her own smaller territory within this.

When there is a purpose of mating, the female will dig a place in her territory to breed.

To allow these behaviors to occur in a home aquarium, you would need an extremely large tank and many people, which could introduce elements of aggression.

Is the Picasso Triggerfish acceptable for your aquarium?

The important thing is that hopefully you now have an idea of ​​whether Picasso Triggerfish is for you or not.

Taking care of them is very simple, you just need to be prepared to deal with their aggression. Chances are you've done your assessment and designed your setup correctly, strong outbursts should be kept to a minimum.

As soon as they swim spherically in your aquarium, you will be attracted by their distinctive appearance and distinctive personality.

What does your Picasso Triggerfish setup look like? Let us know through the suggestions below…