White Tail Triggerfish Marine Aquarium Fish

White Tail Triggerfish (Sufflamen Albicaudatus)

$54.06

Size Small Small/Medium Medium Medium/Large Large X-Large

The White Tail Triggerfish (Sufflamen albicaudatus) is a striking marine species native to the Western Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Arabian Sea. It features a distinctive brownish-grey body with a blue or purple throat wash and a contrasting pale white tail.

Equipped with powerful jaws and sharp teeth, this active fish reaches up to 22 cm and thrives in fish-only-with-live-rock setups of at least 454.2 L. It requires a dedicated carnivorous diet of hard-shelled foods and should be housed alongside robust, semi-aggressive to aggressive tankmates.

Key Features

Scientific Name	Sufflamen albicaudatus
Primary Common Name	White Tail Triggerfish
Other Common Names	Bluethroat Triggerfish, Halfmoon Trigger (sometimes confused with S. chrysopterum)
Origin	Western Indian Ocean (Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea)
Max Size	22 cm
Temperament	Aggressive / Territorial
Diet	Carnivore (Requires hard-shelled foods)
Minimum Tank Size	454.2 L+ (567.8 L+ recommended)
Reef Compatibility	No (Will destroy and eat invertebrates)
Aquarium Type	Fish-Only-With-Live-Rock (FOWLR)

Highlights

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Sufflamen albicaudatus
Primary Common Name: White Tail Triggerfish
Other Common Names: Bluethroat Triggerfish, Halfmoon Trigger (sometimes confused with S. chrysopterum)
Origin: Western Indian Ocean (Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea)
Max Size: 8.5–9 inches (22 cm)
Temperament: Aggressive / Territorial
Diet: Carnivore (Requires hard-shelled foods)
Minimum Tank Size: 120+ Gallons (150+ recommended)
Reef Compatibility: No (Will destroy and eat invertebrates)

Materials & care

Diet & Compatibility:

Diet: The White Tail Triggerfish is a dedicated and voracious Carnivore. Its diet in the wild consists of various hard-shelled invertebrates like crabs, shrimp, mollusks, and sea urchins.
Feeding: In the aquarium, it must be fed a highly varied diet of meaty foods to maintain health and prevent its continually growing teeth from overgrowing. Offer hard-shelled foods regularly, such as frozen whole shrimp (shell on), mussels, clams, and krill. Supplement this with high-quality frozen fish flesh and commercial marine pellets. Feed 1-2 times daily.
Reef Compatibility: It is Not Reef Safe. Its natural feeding behavior involves rooting through substrate and crushing hard-shelled prey. It will systematically destroy and eat all ornamental invertebrates (shrimp, crabs, snails, clams, urchins) and may also rearrange live rock.
Temperament: It is Aggressive / Territorial. While it is one of the more moderately tempered triggerfish, it is still aggressive. It should only be housed with large, robust, and fast-moving tankmates that can defend themselves. Suitable companions include large tangs, groupers, aggressive wrasses, and puffers. Avoid housing with passive, small, or long-finned fish, as they will be harassed or consumed.
Aquarium Setup: Ensure all live rock is highly stable and secured, as triggerfish are known to move décor. A secure, heavy lid is mandatory as they are powerful jumpers.

Compatibility

Suitable strictly for fish-only-with-live-rock (FOWLR) systems containing aggressive or semi-aggressive species like large tangs, groupers, aggressive wrasses, and puffers. Avoid keeping with invertebrates, small fish, or passive species with long fins.

Frequently asked questions

Is the White Tail Triggerfish reef safe?

No, it is not reef safe and will systematically eat and destroy ornamental invertebrates such as shrimp, crabs, snails, clams, and urchins.

What is the minimum tank size required for this fish?

It requires a minimum aquarium size of 454.2 L, though 567.8 L or larger is strongly recommended for adult specimens.

What should the White Tail Triggerfish be fed?

Feed a varied carnivorous diet including hard-shelled items like whole shrimp with shell, clams, mussels, and krill, supplemented with frozen fish flesh and marine pellets 1 to 2 times daily.

Which tankmates are compatible with this species?

Suitable companions include large, fast-moving, and robust fish capable of defending themselves, such as large tangs, groupers, aggressive wrasses, and puffers.

Important Fulfillment Information

Fish and corals ship Monday through Thursday. Not all fish are sexed. If so it will specify.

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Shipping Cost Disclosure

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