Can't Identify This Trigger Fish

[04azuremach]

My girlfriend is a GM of a Petco around here and they received this trigger fish. I can't find any trigger fish online that compares to this. I want to buy the fish, but she can't sell it until she figures out what it is! Anyone have any idea?

That's the best picture we were able to take. It would not come out of the rock.

 

[Lynden]

It looks like either Melichthys indicus or M. niger, both fairly docile fish that are also reef-safe. Do you have any other pictures, of the side of the fish?

 

[04azuremach]

It looks like either Melichthys indicus or M. niger, both fairly docile fish that are also reef-safe. Do you have any other pictures, of the side of the fish?

It's definitely not a niger trigger. I have two of those in my aquarium already. So you're saying if it's a Melichthys, it would most likely be ok with my niger triggers? The Nigers are still young and less than 4 inches long. This fish is actually bigger. I do have a lion fish but he doesn't bother anyone.

This is the only picture I have.

 

[04azuremach]

Well I think I've narrowed it down to a yellow-spotted trigger. I'll have to really look at the fish some more when I go look at it again later. If that's what it is, than I don't think I want it. That would make it NOT docile!

I over looked the yellow-spotted trigger because of the other pictures I had seen until I came upon this one:

That's the closest thing by far.

 

[n3ont3tra]

I think it's an undulatus triggerfish. Here's a pic:
http/www.coralisland.co.il/images/trigge...ndulatus_11.jpg

 

[04azuremach]

I think it's an undulatus triggerfish. Here's a pic:
http/www.coralisland.co.il/images/trigge...ndulatus_11.jpg

No, definitely not. It has blue fins all around like the yellow-spotted trigger and hardly has any yellow if at all.

 

[Whyme]

It's looks like the blue-line trigger to me.

 

[Lynden]

Ahh, that's better! The one in the second picture is a Bluelined Trigger, Pseudobalistes fuscus. Unfortunately, these animals have a large adult size, more than 20''.

By the way, Melichthys niger is not the same animal as Odonus niger. Below is M. niger (could also be M. indicus; these two are very similar). Your first picture still looks like M. niger.

Try google searching Melichthys niger. Common names include Black Durgon, Hawai'ian Niger Trigger, and Black Trigger.

-Lynden

 

[Whyme]

Also kinda looks like a Queen Trigger http/www.marinecenter.com/fish/triggers/queentriggerfish/

 

[04azuremach]

Ahh, that's better! The one in the second picture is a Bluelined Trigger, Pseudobalistes fuscus. Unfortunately, these animals have a large adult size, more than 20''.

By the way, Melichthys niger is not the same animal as Odonus niger. Below is M. niger (could also be M. indicus; these two are very similar). Your first picture still looks like M. niger.

Try google searching Melichthys niger. Common names include Black Durgon, Hawai'ian Niger Trigger, and Black Trigger.

-Lynden

You are correct. This time we actually moved the rock out of the tank so we could get a good view of him. I never noticed the white lines until he was out in the open. He is DEFINITELY a Hawaiian Niger Trigger. Once we moved the rock I knew what it was right away after doing all my research today. Very easy to identify with the white lines on the dorsal and anal fins. My girlfriend even called the vendor to verify.

He's now sitting in my tank, currently terrified after the move. He makes my two niger triggers look pretty small now. He has a good inch and a half on them. Of all the fish to bug him, my yellow tang gave him a hard time with his tail for a couple minutes, but left him alone when I turned the light off. The yellow tang has been there for a year now and although not known to be as aggressive as the other fish like the lionfish and triggers, he is the dominant fish in the tank LOL.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Lynden]

No problem.

The tables may turn in time. Hawai'ian Niger Triggers may be docile, but they still pack a punch.

By the way, is it eating?

 

[04azuremach]

No problem.

The tables may turn in time. Hawai'ian Niger Triggers may be docile, but they still pack a punch.

By the way, is it eating?

Not yet. I just went over there to feed them after checking your post. As soon as I turned the light on I noticed the lion fish taking special interest in the new fish and could tell he was overly hungry (he tried to eat algae). 7 silver sides later the new trigger started to come out and do several laps around the tank bumping into anything and everything as if learning his new boundaries.

I took a few new pics of him. My camera absolutely sucks at taking high speed shots so just about everything came out blurred.

Here is one of my Nigers with the yellow tang behind him.

Here's an over all shot of the tank. After having the light turned off the Nigers were not interested in coming out for a photoshoot and the anomone was deflated for lack of a better term.

As you can see I have a red algae problem which I'm fighting a losing battle with.

 

[Matty P]

nice Lion

 

[04azuremach]

nice Lion

Thanks. He definitely looks good in the tank. I'm going to have to remove one of the big sunken ships to give him and the new trigger some swimming room.

The new trigger got his dark color back this morning so I take that as a good sign that he's no longer stressed.

 

[Lynden]

Try feeding the trigger live crickets. They have helped me out of more than one tight spot.