Name: Niger Triggerfish
Brand: LiveAquaria
Availability: InStock

Quick Stats

Care Level Easy

Temperament Aggressive

Color Form Blue, Green, Purple

Diet Carnivore

Reef Compatible No

Water Conditions sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size 1'

Origin Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Sri Lanka

Family Balistidae

Minimum Tank Size 180 gallons

Compatibility View Chart

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Overview

The Niger Trigger or Redtooth Trigger is a striking fish for the home aquarium. The exact color of the Niger Triggerfish varies in this species of fish, and can also change from day to day between purple, blue and blue/green with a striking, lighter blue highlight on the fins and long tail lobes. The color temperature of the lighting also plays a role in the coloration of any fish in the home aquarium. As an adult, they acquire bright red teeth, and are normally dark purple in color with a blue/green highlight around their face making them quite interesting to watch when they eat.

The Niger Triggerfish requires a 180 gallon or larger aquarium with rocks and caves for hiding, and may rearrange the landscaping and rocks. It vocalizes using a "grunting" sound. They are a great active fish for the more aggressive, fish-only display.

The Niger Triggerfish needs a varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, small fish and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 2"; Medium: 2" to 3"; Medium/Large: 3" to 4"; Large: 4" to 5"; X Large: 5" to 7"

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Customer Testimonials

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Nathan [City Not Selected] , TN

I bought a Trigger a few months back. This fish is very graceful when it swims and is friendly towards me. I really liked him until I came home one day and he had killed my pair of Clownfish, my Domino Damsel, and my Horseshoe Crab. He didn't bother my Yellow Tang or Hermit Crab. I quickly made a divider. Be very careful about adding this fish because they may not seem very aggressive at first but they really can be.

Gene G North Palm Beach , FL

This is one of the most active fish I have ever had. They are easy to take care of and very energetic. My Niger Triggerfish is always swimming out in the open. I would recommend this fish to beginner aquarists.

David C Lake Como , NJ

This is one of the nicest Triggers that I have ever owned. He learned some bad manners and became violent from watching my Undulated. He was show quality and had beautiful teeth but became very aggressive toward my Lion and Grouper so I gave him up. Great fish to watch and will feed from your hand. Thing was a tank, and could hold its own against even eels. Great choice for an aggressive setup.

Torrey D Orlando , FL

At first, my Niger was very shy, almost too shy. Now he is out all the time. He is pretty peaceful and doesn't bother the inverts.

Greg M Scottsdale , AZ

My Niger Triggerfish swims peacefully with my Blue Spot Puffer and Lunare Wrasse. A great fish! If you like him, don't pass him up.

David Y Linda , CA

I have eight Triggers in my tank. Niger is one of the least aggressive. He is also least picky with his food. He eats everything I give him - squid, shrimp, smelt. It's good to have a fish that cleans up all the leftovers. His color changes from blue to green to black. Though not glamorous, he is a pretty fish.

Andie C Waddell , AZ

My Trigger is very sweet. At first, he was skittish but once he got used to the activity outside the tank he became very showy. One thing about this Trigger that alarmed me at first was his tendency to lie on the bottom of the tank, usually leaning against a rock. I guess this behavior is normal because I've had him for over 6 months and he does it all the time.

Jonathan N Sacramento , CA

This is a very interesting and beautiful Triggerfish. My Niger Trigger is 6 inches long and likes to swim from one end of the tank to the other. He gets along well with the other fish in my tank (Clown Trigger, Panther Grouper, Snowflake Eel, and Huma Trigger).

Chuck N Pontiac , MI

This fish has personality! My particular Niger is about 7 inches in length now, and is very peaceful with all of my other fish, including the Clownfish. Although this cannot be said for all Niger Triggers, he doesn't even bother the inverts. He will put up a pretty good fight with my algae scraper, but actually lets me pet him. I highly recommend one for a fish-only tank, as this is a fantastic, fun to watch, easy-to-care for specimen.

Derrik B Kalispell , MT

My Niger Trigger is very sweet. He and my Rectangular Trigger swim around the tank together, and even sleep in the same hole! The only fish he seems not to really tolorate is my Green Wolf Eel. If the Eel decides to be difficult, he gets put in his place, but other than that he is always behaved.

Christopher W Williamsburg , VA

I received my Niger Trigger from my wife as a Christmas gift. Let me tell you, this was the best gift I have ever received. He is always full of life and loves to eat anything that is dropped into the tank. He is quite peaceful towards my Domino Damsel, 2 Green Chromis, 3 Stripe Damsel and Brown Bird Wrasse. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a easy to keep highly energetic marine fish.

Rusty W Bossier City , LA

This is one of my favorites among the triggerfish. Nice color under actinic lighting and completely safe with corals. As long as you don't have shrimp in your tank, these are great for a reef or fish only tank. I would recommend getting one small (

Kameron W Shepherd , MI

BEST FISH I got this fish yesterday and from the second I put him in he never hid he ate right away and has an amazing character

Eric M Columbus , OH

This is without doubt one of the prettiest fish that I had owned. I say had, because for the first two weeks he was great. Didn't mess with anything in my tank. Ate well, seemed very peaceful. Then one morning I came down to feed the fish, he killed my bicolor, cleaner shrimp, and tore apart my yellow head Gobi's tail. Fortunately my local Aquarium took him in. He lasted about 5 minutes then he sold. He was beautiful.

Maurice P Mandeville , LA

I have a Nigerian thats 12 years old and is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina - after 3 weeks with no electricity. He eats right out of my hand, very active and every bit the colors described. He is in a 90 gallon reef and gets along with 2 Cinnamon Clowns, Yellow Tang, 2 Blue Damsels, with numerous softies and 3 anemones.

Shawn M Ocean Pines , MD

I had heard horror stories so I was hesitant to add the Niger Trigger to my tank. It seems as though most reviews are from owners who recently acquired the fish so it's easy to say "he's great". Experience and a few casualties have taught me to let a significant amount of time go by before believing the fish is a good fit. All too often, a nice fish goes psycho after 6 months or a year and kills tank mates. My Niger is at the 6 month mark and so far so good. He tank mates are a Yellow Tang, Naso Tang, Scopus Tang, Sailfin Tang and a Blue Hippo Tang along with a File Fish, 2 Percula Clowns, Coral Beauty and Koran Angel and Yellow Watchman Goby with 100's of hermits and snails. The Niger was a little smaller than the others and they are all about the same size, except for the Hippo...she is huge. They live in a 250g with another 60 or so gallons of water volume in the sump. The other fish pushed him around a little so he could figure out the pecking order and after a day or so, everything was and has been fine. He is an awesome fish with tons of personality. Keeping my fingers crossed though because you never know

Pavel M Boston , MA

Have had mine for about 4 months. Amazing fish. Best of all, I have a full reef system, and this guy is absolutely the star of the show. Does not bother any of my corals or other fish. I have a scarlet cleaner shrimp which actually took care of his ich infection, so they are best buddies. I've only seen him attack something once - a hermit crab, not sure if the hermit survived but it's a sacrifice I am willing to make to have this gorgeous and playful fish in my tank. By far the best reef tank inhabitant I've had in my 15 years in the hobby. Glad I took the risk.

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