Titan triggerfish

Giant Triggerfish ( Balistoides viridescens )

The giant triggerfish ( Balistoides viridescens ), also called Titan triggerfish, one of the largest species within the family of triggerfish ( Balistidae ). The fish live in the Red Sea, and in the Indo-Pacific from the coast of South Africa to Japan, the Line Islands, Tuamotu and New Caledonia. Giant Triggerfish reach about a length around 75 inches and a weight of ten kilograms.

Way of life

Giant Triggerfish live singly or in pairs in lagoons and on outer reefs. Their diet consists among other things of stony corals, especially the ästigen and prickly Acropora and Pocillopora species, which he breaks with his powerful teeth from floor, from sea stars, sea urchins, and long spiny diadem sea urchins, snails, bristle worms, mussels, algae and detritus. Prey, which hides itself in the sand, is exposed to a powerful jet of water from its mouth. Larger rocks they drag with their powerful jaws off to get to the hidden loot there. The area defend the animals in very robust interference. This behavior shows the giant triggerfish after termination of nest building, which he applies to the floor and can reach a diameter of almost two meters and a depth of 75 centimeters.

Behavior towards people

Titan Triggerfish are outside the breeding season towards people generally peaceful and disinterested. During the breeding season the fish defend their eggs against people who come close to this. Before the attack, the animal threatened by a half- body rotation about the longitudinal axis and floats on the page. Does not draw back to the intruder, he is attacked. This can lead to serious injuries because of sharp teeth, the size and power of the animals. In the literature, a minimum distance of 15 meters is recommended for scrims. Also, the nest is not recommended to swim or to withdraw as a diver with threatening gestures of the fish to the top.

There are also cases of animals known which were injured divers in unprovoked attacks and have then attacked outside the breeding season people. However, this behavior represents the exception

Titan Triggerfish as food fish

The consumption of giant oppressors can lead to ciguatera poisoning, poisoning by ciguatoxin. This poison goes through the food in the fish and is concentrated increasingly in the food chain.