Triggerfish Assasi - Medium

The Assasi Triggerfish has a crazy, painted appearance. It's a one-of-a-kind and intriguing combination of colours and shapes. This is the origin of the well-known Spanish painter Picasso reference name. The majority of their body is tan with a white belly. It also has three black and white horizontal stripes at the rear of its body down to the tail's base. On the top of the head, there are brilliant bright blue/black stripes that run across the top of their heads down across the eye area. It also has a yellow mouth that is surrounded by a pale blue area. Above its mouth, a black stripe runs from cheek to cheek across its face. It also has a vertical yellow stripe running down its cheek and very contrasting yellow eyes.

When fully mature, they have a big oval-shaped body that measures 25-30 cm in length. It's also compressed laterally, giving it a flat appearance.

In the wild the Picasso Triggerfish can be found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea. It is most typically seen in Hawaii, Polynesia, and the Philippines. This fish can be found swimming around in the sandy areas of reefs, as well as in the shallower areas of reefs where there are rocks for it to hide behind. It is known as humu humu nuku nuku apua'a in Hawaii, where it is the state's official fish. For short, humu humu. This fish is fiercely territorial, protecting its home from all forms of water life. They've even been known to try to scare divers away.

Tank Recommendations for Assasi Triggerfish

Most saltwater fish diseases affect Picasso triggers, and they react well to most basic medicines and therapies. Before introducing new recruits to your main tank, quarantine them for two to three weeks. It need a tank of at least 75 gallons or 283 litres of capacity, and the more space it has, the less aggressive it should be.

If given a large tank, they can be quiet, and they should get along with larger marine fish. It's possible that it'll consume smaller fish. Make sure there are plenty of hiding places (live rock). It's worth noting that this species has been used in research to check if coral reef fish can see in colour. This makes sense given many reef species' spectacular markings and colours. These incredible colours must have evolved for a reason, whether it's for reproduction, camouflage, aggression, or something else entirely.

When putting your hand in the tank, be cautious, especially when introducing it to your tank for the first time. Picasso triggerfish are known to bite, and their teeth are powerful.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Assasi Triggerfish can be a gorgeous and colourful showpiece fish in bigger fish-only tanks with other semi-aggressive to aggressive fish. If introduced at the same time, Assasi Triggerfish can be kept very successfully in a male/female pair

Invertebrates are their favorite food. They'll happily eat skunk cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp, any kind of crab or shrimp, and even Nassarius or Cerith snails. They may knock over or otherwise torment your corals, even if they aren't consuming your inverts. They'll go after the fish in the tank that aren't as aggressive. As a result, they should be housed in a fish-only tank alongside other aggressive fishes such as Snowflake eels, Lionfish, and Surgeonfish of comparable size.

Usually Compatible

Keep them among fish that are bigger and more aggressive. The Picasso Triggerfish is quite territorial, and if it believes its tank is too crowded, it will get into fights with its tankmates. Outside of the harem of females, it will occasionally meet during the breeding season, this fish is alone in the wild.

Sometime Compatible

Because these Triggerfish have a preference for eating crustaceans and other small invertebrates, they are not suited for a reef tank. Triggerfish, are however sometimes compatible with Angelfish both the dwarf and large varieties, Anthias, Basslets/Pseudochromis. Boxfish, Butterflyfish, Clownfish, Damselfish and Eels are usually fine. Some other suitable tankmates can be Groupers, Hogfish, Lionfish, Parrotfish, Pufferfish, Scorpionfish and Snappers.

Rarely Compatible

Assasi Triggers are rarely are compatible with Anglerfish/Frogfish, Batfish, Cardinalfish. Delicate fish like Seahorses, Pipefish and Filefish shouldn’t be kept with them nor should any invertebrates, crustaceans or live corals. , Rays and Sharks shouldn’t be kept with these Triggerfish either.

Feeding your Assasi Triggerfish

To wear down their ever-growing teeth, the Assasi Triggerfish requires a diet that includes hard shelled foods. A meaty diet of squid, krill, clams, tiny fish, and hard-shelled shrimp is ideal for them. In the wild, they primarily eat crustaceans and small shrimp. It is possible to teach them to eat frozen foods with a little training. Start off introducing a little frozen food with meals and slowly build up the amounts. Give them a well-balanced, high-quality diet. Supplements such as frozen meats and frozen foods containing marine algae are beneficial to their overall health. These fish should be fed at least twice a day.