About Gilded Triggerfish
The most reef-safe triggerfish — feeds on zooplankton in the wild and won't molest most corals or inverts. Adult males develop a striking blue throat patch. Pairs do well in larger systems.
The gilded triggerfish or blue-throated triggerfish is a species in the triggerfish (Balistidae) family found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Sleek triggerfish body with subtle yellow fin margins and (in adult males) a distinctive blue throat patch that intensifies during display. Less aggressive coloration than most triggers.
In your tank. The most reef-safe triggerfish — feeds on zooplankton in the wild and ignores most corals and inverts in captivity. Open water swimmer rather than rockwork-rearranger.
Care notes. Pairs work in 150+ gallon systems and display courtship behaviors. Aggressive toward other triggers and similar-shaped fish.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Indo-Pacific reefs; mid-priced ($60–150). Carnivore — mysis, krill, squid, prepared meaty foods.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 219897).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) cello caruso-turiello, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).