Fish Facts

The Titan Triggerfish, Balistoides viridescens, is the largest of the Triggerfish species and can grow up to 75 cm in length (30 inches). Their range includes reef areas in the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia, Fiji, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and the Maldives, also in the Red Sea. The fish is not a pelagic species and generally lives in the flat areas of the reef.

Characteristics

Titan triggerfish are the workers of the reef and often surrounded by other fish feeding from the leftovers.

Titan triggerfish feed on shellfish, urchins, crustaceans and coral. They are the workers of the reef, often being busy turning over rocks, stirring up the sand and biting off pieces of branching coral. This is why one often sees other smaller fish species around it who feed from the left overs.

Titan triggerfish with Orange-lined triggerfish and Moorish Idols at the reef of Fihalhohi, Maldives.

Interaction with humans

The fish can be very aggressive towards divers and snorkellers. Especially during reproduction season it is very territorial and will guard its nest, which it lays in a flat sandy area, vigorously against any intruders. Due to its size and strong teeth it can inflict serious injury. Bites may also beciguatoxic. The Titan Triggerfish will not always bite, but can swim at snorkellers and divers escorting them out of their territory. When the males (most colourful) start swimming in your direction, the best thing to do is swim away backwards kicking your fins as a defence. Failure to do so may result in being bitten. Prior to aggressive action, the fish will often roll onto its side, allowing it a better look at the intruder it perceives at threatening it or its eggs. Divers can look for the fish to perform this rolling action, and take it as a warning, allowing them time to retreat to a safe distance before the fish attacks.

Titan triggerfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Tetraodontiformes
Family:	Balistidae
Genus:	Balistoides
Species:	B. viridescens
Binomial name
Balistoides viridescens (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)