Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger)

Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Black Triggerfish, Red Tooth Triggerfish, Blue Triggerfish, Redfang Triggerfish, and Redtoothed Filefish are found throughout Indo-Pacific waters and the Red Sea. Their range extends from the east coast of Africa to the Marquesas and Society islands, as far north as Japan, and as far south as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger)

Niger Triggerfish are frequently found between the rocks and crevices of long slopes and fast flowing reef channels of their range at depths from 30 to over 100 feet where they feed primarily on copepods and sea sponges. In the shallower inshore coastal waters, adult Niger Triggerfish are often encountered in large groups as they feed on zooplankton carried by the swift currents.

Although Niger Triggerfish have a deep purple body with bluish green markings on their heads, hints of yellow on their throat, and glowing light blue margins on their lyre tail lobes and fins, they change colors depending on their moods. Colors range from blue, to blue green, to black, to purple. Niger Triggerfish have tiny red needle sharp teeth, a mouth that looks like it is constantly grinning at you, and small pectoral fins. They locomote with their dorsal and anal fins in an undulating motion unique to this species.

A single Niger Triggerfish can be housed in a mature FOWLR or reef tank of at least 180 gallon capacity with a sand or coralline substrate, plenty of live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and overhangs for them to hide among, and a lot of free swimming space.   Although they are NOT considered reef safe, tropical fish keeping enthusiasts have successfully housed them in large reef tanks with a minimum of crustaceans. Even though they do not eat corals, Odonus niger may use coral rubble, sponges, snails, tunicates, and any crustacean they can find to sharpen their red teeth. They also have a habit of overturning live rock in the tank which can damage corals.

In a FOWLR tank, Niger Triggerfish may fight with other triggers but they normally do fine with similarly sized fish such as tangs. The larger they get, the more aggressive they become. Female to female aggression is common with Odonus niger.

To date, Niger Triggerfish have not been bred in an aquarium environment.

In the wild, Nigers are nest builders. The males set up territories in the mating grounds where they lay the eggs in their nests. The females care for the eggs while both parents guard the eggs until the larvae hatch out.

Redtoothed triggerfish are planktivorous feeders that also eat krill, clams, squid, sea urchins, and small fish. In an aquarium environment, they will eat anything, but a balanced diet of meaty foods like clams, Krill, frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and frozen omnivore foods is recommended. Feed them two to three times daily in lieu of a single feeding.

Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger) are available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from a variety of online suppliers and specialty fish shops at reasonable prices that vary according to size and area of collection.

Approximate purchase sizes: Small: 1″ to 2″; Medium: 2″ to 3″; Medium/Large 3″ to 3 3/4″; Large: 3 3/4″ to 4 1/2″; X Large 4 1/2″ to 5 1/2″.   Prices for small specimens start at around $ 69.99 and increase to $259.99 for extra large specimens.

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Aquarium Type: FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 76-82° F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max size: 12 – 18″
Color Form: Purple, Blue green, Blue
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Reef with Caution
Origin: Indo Pacific, Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Sri Lanka
Family: Balistidae
Lifespan: Over 10 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate