Trigger and Filefishes

Some of the most charismatic marine fishes in the hobby, Triggerfishes are intelligent pets which can provide some interesting challenges for their keepers.

Their big brains mean that the more aggressive triggers need to be kept occupied in order to stop them becoming destructive. These are fish that will investigate cables, pipework and their tankmates and this makes them very interactive pets in the right hands. It also means they can be a nuisance if kept alongside peaceful tankmates in aquaria that lack interesting diversions.

Plankton feeding species can be kept in reef tanks and their peaceful nature means that they can even be kept in pairs or groups.

Filefishes are usually easy going and vary in their invert compatibility. Aiptasia-eating files are very popular for controlling nuisance anemones and are mild-tempered enough to be kept together.