Balistes vetula, the queen triggerfish or old spouse, is a reef-dwelling triggerfish discovered within the Atlantic Ocean. It is sometimes caught as a gamefish and typically stored in very massive marine aquaria.
Queen Triggerfish profile
In this article, I am going to talk about Queen Triggerfish size, teeth, facts, care, edible, regulations, eating, pictures, etc.
Description
The queen triggerfish reaches 60 cm (24 in), although most solely are about half that size. It is often blue, purple, turquoise, and inexperienced with a yellowish throat, and light blue traces on the fins and head. It can change color considerably to match its environment, or if subjected to stress.
Distribution
In the western Atlantic, it ranges from Canada to southern Brazil, and within the eastern Atlantic, it’s discovered at Ascension, Cape Verde, Azores, and south to Angola. It in all fairness widespread in Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.
The queen triggerfish is discovered within the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Ascension, Cape Verde, and Azores, ranging south to southern Angola. In the western Atlantic, it resides in waters from Canada to Massachusetts and the northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil.
These colorful, oval-shaped fish are in style aquarium points of interest. They can dart into crevasses when threatened, and lock their dorsal fin in place to forestall predators from pulling them out.
They can also produce an audible warning from particular membranes, warning different fish to maintain away. Although this fish is commonly caught for meals, warning ought to be used throughout breeding season as a result of they’re aggressively defensive of their territory and may inflict a robust chew.
Habitat
This species is discovered over rocky bottoms and sometimes related to reefs. It varieties colleges however can also be noticed solitary over sandy and grassy habitats. The queen triggerfish lives at depths from 7-902 ft (2-275 m), however, it’s more generally seen at 10-98 ft (3-30 m).
The Queen Triggerfish comes from the reefs of the Caribbean Ocean and is a really hanging fish that can add a brand new dimension of color and form to the big marine fish solely aquarium.
They are triangularly formed, and are principally yellow and inexperienced, with an attention-grabbing sample of traces circling their eyes. Their fins are blue to purple in color and the tail is forked.
A 500-gallon or bigger aquarium with loads of swimming area is required for this species as they develop very massive. These triggerfish should not secure for the reef aquarium and can eat any crustacean within the aquarium. They are one of the much more aggressive fish that ought to be added last to your assortment.
The Queen Triggerfish wants a diverse weight loss program of meaty meals together with; squid, krill, clams, small fish, and onerous shelled shrimp to assist put on down their ever-growing teeth.
Distinctive Features
The queen triggerfish is a big oval-shaped, laterally-compressed fish with small eyes positioned towards the top of the top. The anterior dorsal fin possesses two spines used to lock the fish right into a crevice in the course of the night time.
The first one locks and the second backbone unlocks. This prevents predators from pulling them free or swallowing the fish and is liable for the widespread name, “triggerfish”.
In addition, queen triggerfish have particular membranes positioned simply posterior to the pectoral fins that are used to supply a throbbing sound that’s audible to most different fish as a warning to remain away.
The posterior dorsal fin is massive and triangular whereas the caudal fin is crescent-shaped. The higher and decrease rays of the caudal fin exist as long trailing filaments.
It is able to move its eyes unbiased of one another. The sexes have comparable morphology and coloration whereas juveniles typically have shorter fins and are paler in color than the adults.
Biology
This stunning Queen Triggerfish may be described to be a big oval form that’s laterally compressed. The eyes are positioned in the direction of the top of its head. Their eyes have the power to maneuver independently of one another.
They are about 8-16 inches long. The name ‘triggerfish” comes from the two spines on the anterior dorsal fins that lock the fish into crevices at night. How does she do this? Good question!
The Queen Triggerfish uses the first fin to lock itself into the crevice and the second fin to unlock itself. This is a defensive mechanism to keep themselves from getting eaten by their predators.
This isn’t the one approach they shield themselves; these superb fish may produce a throbbing sound through the use of a specialized membrane positioned beneath their pectoral fin. This throbbing sound is a warning to their predators to remain away.
Found over rocky or coral areas. May type colleges, typically solitary over sand and grassy areas. Feeds primarily on benthic invertebrates. It preys on sea urchins by blowing water to overturn it after which assaults it the place the spines are quick. Excellent meals fish however sometimes may cause intoxication because of the liver.
Coloration
Queen triggerfish have the distinctive coloration of greenish to bluish-grey alongside the back, orange-yellow on the decrease portion of the top and stomach, with two large diagonal curved vivid blue bands extending from the snout to under and in entrance of the pectoral fins.
The decrease band is steady with a blue ring across the lips. There can be a broad blue bar throughout the caudal peduncle and blue sub-marginal bands in median fins.
Dentition
The mouth is small with sturdy jaws that include sturdy incisor-like specialized enamel used to chisel holes of hard-shelled prey objects.
Size, Age & Growth
Reaching a most whole size of 23.6 inches (60.0 cm), the queen triggerfish is more generally reported at whole lengths of roughly 11.8 inches (30.0 cm). The most-reported printed weight of this species is 12 pounds (5.44 kg).
Queen triggerfish attain maturity at 9-11 inches (23-27 cm) fork size and have a lifespan of a minimum of 7 years and presumably as much as 13 years.
Ecology
The queen triggerfish is often discovered at coral and rocky reefs in depths of three–30 m (9.8–98.four ft), but it could happen as deep as 275 m (902 ft) and typically over areas with sand or seagrass.
It preys on quite a lot of invertebrates, notably sea urchins. Learn about leaping blenny fish.
In the aquarium
As one of many largest and most aggressive of the triggerfish, this fish isn’t a sensible choice as a resident in a marine aquarium. It is nonetheless a hardy fish for individuals who can present it with the correct surroundings.
Because it grows so massive and so shortly the minimal aquarium for this fish is a 500-gallon aquarium. Although some sources argue it may be stored in as little a tank as 125 gallons when it achieves its grownup dimension of two ft it is rather unlikely to thrive, and can probably result in an untimely death.
Its weight loss program consists of invertebrates. In aquariums, shrimp, squid, clams, octopus, scallops, and crab are all good selections of meals.
Food Habits
Feeding totally on benthic invertebrates, the queen triggerfish preys on sea urchins by creating water currents that overturn the urchin, making it susceptible to predation by exposing the underside the place the spines are quick.
It additionally feeds on macroalgae, bivalves, crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers, shrimp, and polychaetes. Feeding happens throughout daylight. At night time, they wedge themselves into crevices throughout the reef for defense from predation.
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Reproduction
Male queen triggerfish set up territories of roughly 33 ft (10 m) in diameter, attracting a number of females. Nests are constructed within the sand by shifting fins quickly or making a present by blowing water with the mouth close to the underside to create sand bowls.
The eggs are launched into these bowls after a courtship ritual of which little is known. The mating pair fiercely defends the nest of fertilized eggs, even biting divers that strategy to shut.
When the eggs hatch, the younger disperse into the water currents. Reproduction happens year-round, peaking within the fall and once more within the winter.