Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) Care Guide

An iconic marine fish with an artistic pattern of blue, yellow, and black stripes and lines — earning its name from the painter Picasso. Hawaii's state fish.

Overview

Rhinecanthus aculeatus is a species in the family Balistidae. An iconic marine fish with an artistic pattern of blue, yellow, and black stripes and lines — earning its name from the painter Picasso. Hawaii's state fish. Aggressive and territorial, especially during nesting. Not reef-safe as it will rearrange rockwork and eat invertebrates.

Taxonomy

Family: Balistidae
Genus: Rhinecanthus
Scientific name: Rhinecanthus aculeatus
Other names: Humu Humu, Lagoon Triggerfish
Origin: Indo-Pacific

Habitat

Rhinecanthus aculeatus is a triggerfish of shallow Indo-Pacific reef flats and lagoons. It feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, crushing snails, crabs and urchins with strong jaws, and is territorial; it is not safe with most ornamental invertebrates.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 400 L
Temperature: 24-27 °C
pH: 8.1-8.4
Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
KH: 8-12 dKH
Water flow: moderate
Adult size: 20-25 cm
Lifespan: 8-15 years
Difficulty: intermediate

Diet

Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: aggressive
Position in tank: middle
Compatible tank mates: Large Tangs, Large Wrasses, Groupers
Avoid with: Corals, Invertebrates, Small Fish, Other Triggerfish

Reef compatibility

Generally classified as not reef-safe: routinely feeds on corals, sessile invertebrates or ornamental shrimps and is best kept in a fish-only system.

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-layer
Breeding difficulty: advanced