Gilded triggerfish - Xanthichthys auromarginatus

Species Name: Xanthichthys auromarginatus

Synonyms: Balistes auromarginatus, Xanthichthysauromarginatus

Common Names: Gilded triggerfish

Family: Balistidae (Triggerfishes)

Order: Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes)

Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)

Max.Size: 30.0 cm / 11.8 inch

Environment: Marine reef

Origin: Western and Eastern Indian Ocean, Northwest, Western Central and Eastern Central Pacific

Temperament: Harmless

Aquarium Setup: Xanthichthys auromarginatus (Gilded triggerfish) require a lot of space. A small Gilded triggerfish should be given at least 40 gallons, while an adult one needs 100 gallons or more. The water must be kept in motion. They love to play among water jets and bubbles. They also enjoy digging. Keep levels of ammonia and nitrite at zero, and allow no more than than 10 ppm of nitrate – preferably much less. pH in the low eights and water temperatures from 77 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is fine.

Food: Xanthichthys auromarginatus (Gilded triggerfish) feed on zooplankton, particularly copepods in the wild. You can feed them live, frozen and flake foods. Feed your Gilded triggerfish small servings several times a day. You can also give it shrimp, mussels, squids and chopped up fish.

Breeding: We have no information about how to breed Xanthichthys auromarginatus (Gilded triggerfish) in aquariums.