ReefPicker
← Livestock checker
Niger Triggerfish
Triggerfish

Niger Triggerfish

Odonus niger

Deep purple shot through with blue-green, trailing streamers off the tail, and small red teeth that give it its other name — the redtooth. It is a plankton feeder that schools over current-swept slopes, which is why it ignores coral, and it is one of the few triggers with real personality: keepers describe it waggling at the glass for attention. The catch arrives with size. Juveniles are shy, adults are territorial and unpredictable, they reach well over a foot, and they gnaw heaters, tubing and cables to wear their teeth down. It needs a lid, but not for the usual reason — this one sprays water rather than jumping.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
15.7"
Min tank
180 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Planktivore
Zone
Mid-water, Open water, Rockwork
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
Something look wrong? Report an error

Tankmates

How Niger Triggerfish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Niger Triggerfish.Blue-Leg Hermit CrabNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Blue-Leg Hermit Crab is on the menu.Trochus SnailNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Trochus Snail is on the menu.Astrea SnailNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Astrea Snail is on the menu.Cerith SnailNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Cerith Snail is on the menu.Nassarius SnailNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nassarius Snail is on the menu.Nerite SnailNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nerite Snail is on the menu.Mexican Turbo SnailNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Mexican Turbo Snail is on the menu.Bumble Bee SnailNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Bumble Bee Snail is on the menu.Fighting ConchNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Fighting Conch is on the menu.Scarlet Reef Hermit CrabNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab is on the menu.Zebra Hermit CrabNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Zebra Hermit Crab is on the menu.Halloween Hermit CrabNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Halloween Hermit Crab is on the menu.Emerald CrabNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Emerald Crab is on the menu.Sally Lightfoot CrabNiger Triggerfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Sally Lightfoot Crab is on the menu.Skunk Cleaner ShrimpNiger Triggerfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Skunk Cleaner Shrimp is on the menu.Fire ShrimpNiger Triggerfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Fire Shrimp is on the menu.Peppermint ShrimpNiger Triggerfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Peppermint Shrimp is on the menu.Coral Banded ShrimpNiger Triggerfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Coral Banded Shrimp is on the menu.Tiger Pistol ShrimpNiger Triggerfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Percula ClownfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Percula Clownfish and may harass it.Maroon ClownfishNiger Triggerfish and Maroon Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple Queen AnthiasNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Purple Queen Anthias and may harass it.Banggai CardinalfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Banggai Cardinalfish and may harass it.Radiant WrasseNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Pajama CardinalfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Pajama Cardinalfish and may harass it.Green ChromisNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Green Chromis and may harass it.Blue DamselNiger Triggerfish and Blue Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellowtail DamselNiger Triggerfish and Yellowtail Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame AngelfishNiger Triggerfish and Flame Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral Beauty AngelfishNiger Triggerfish and Coral Beauty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Lemonpeel AngelfishNiger Triggerfish and Lemonpeel Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor AngelfishNiger Triggerfish and Bicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Saddleback ClownfishNiger Triggerfish and Red Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellow TangNiger Triggerfish and Yellow Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Helfrich's FirefishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Red Sea ClownfishNiger Triggerfish and Red Sea Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yasha GobyNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yasha Goby and may harass it.Tailspot BlennyNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Tailspot Blenny and may harass it.Sailfin TangNiger Triggerfish and Sailfin Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.