Picasso Triggerfish

Facts about the Picasso Triggerfish, it is a variety of triggerfish, which means that it is one of the brightly colored fish species, belonging to the Rhinecanthus genus of the Balistidae family. The scientific name of the fish is Rhinecanthus aculeatus and it is also commonly called as the Lagoon Triggerfish, Blackbar Triggerfish, the Jamal and the Picassofish. In Hawaii, this Picasso Triggerfish is called as the Humuhumu Triggerfish, which means the triggerfish with a nose similar to a pig and it is the official state fish of Hawaii, as well. These Picasso Triggerfish species can be largely seen on reefs in the Indo-Pacific area.

Features

The Picasso Triggerfish is a small size fish than can attain a maximum body length of 12 inches (30 cm). The Picasso Triggerfish has a crazy, painted look with a brown colored body with incline dark bands, and vivacious blue and black streaks on the top of its head, with a yellow streak between its cheeks and intensely set-back eyes.

Both male and female Picasso Triggerfish protect territories, and some fish will maintain their territory, even for eight years or longer, but males will hold their territories for considerably longer period than the female ones. A usual male territory may go beyond with one to five female terrains, and their mating arrangement is referred to as Haremic, even though not much is recognized about this and similar mating arrangements are observed in other Balistidae species. If a male or female fish is removed or disappeared, their territories are quickly assumed by a new fish. These Picasso Triggerfish species are capable of reproducing repeatedly over their life span.

Spawning in the Picasso Triggerfish species will take place around morning, with the egg lots being attached to coral rubble, sand or algae. The eggs will hatch on the same day about twilight. Even though paternal care is usual in Teleost fish species with outside fertilization, it is the mother Picasso Triggerfish that protects and take care of the eggs pending they hatch. The mother fish remains over the eggs for about 12 to 14 hours, airing the eggs by means of her pectoral fins to perk up ventilation for possibly 30 percent of the time. She will chase away the fish that comes near and eliminate other interlopers, such as starfish through her mouth. Motherly care is efficient in avoiding predation, and experimental elimination of the mothers abridged survival to more or less nothing signifying this behavior is adaptive. Unlike father fish, mother fish forage less and over a smaller region close to the egg group while taking care of the eggs. As the male fish have manifold mates, taking care of an egg bunch would most likely be more costly in terms of misplaced mating chances, so motherly care is measured to be an evolutionarily stable plan.

The Picasso Triggerfish mostly lives in the reefs and dirty regions of coral reefs where it consumes almost everything that comes on its way. The Picasso Triggerfish are agitatedly swimming at all times around and can energetically defend their territory against trespassers, as well as divers, particularly when protecting their eggs during their reproduction period. Fortunately, their virtual small size makes these fish species much less hazardous than the bigger titan triggerfish of the identical family.

Diet

The Picasso Triggerfish is a carnivorous fish and in the wild, it feeds on everything that comes in its way. In the aquarium, the Picasso Triggerfish are fed with meaty foods, as well as squid, clams, krill, small fish, and firm shelled shrimp to assist wear down their ever developing teeth.

The average lifespan of the Picasso Triggerfish ranges from 5 years to 10 years in the wild, whereas in the aquarium, they can live more than 10 years.