Titan Triggerfish be aware!

[peterak]

I've seen many titans in Samoa and Bali. In Samoa they all fled when they saw me. In Bali they ignored me. It was always my understanding that they're only an issue when they're breeding.

I watched this guy in Bali eat for about ten minutes, getting into its face a few times. Guess I'm stupid but lucky.

On the other hand, here in Hawaii, lagoon and wedgetail triggers get pretty aggressive if you approach their nests. They'll rush you, but usually back off at the last second.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Yes, it's when they have their nest made and it's the Titans that will scar you!

 

[chillyinCanada]

I've seen many titans in Samoa and Bali. In Samoa they all fled when they saw me. In Bali they ignored me. It was always my understanding that they're only an issue when they're breeding.

View attachment 580924
I watched this guy in Bali eat for about ten minutes, getting into its face a few times. Guess I'm stupid but lucky.

View attachment 580927
On the other hand, here in Hawaii, lagoon and wedgetail triggers get pretty aggressive if you approach their nests. They'll rush you, but usually back off at the last second.

Your second photo is a Picasso Triggerfish

 

[peterak]

Your second photo is a Picasso Triggerfish

Lagoon triggerfish - Wikipedia

Aquarists often refer to Rhinecanthus aculeatus as Picasso Triggerfish; ichthyologists (Gerard Allen, Jack Randall, John Hoover) tend toward Lagoon. The related Wedgetail Triggerfish (R. rectangulus) is also sometimes called Picasso. You say tomato...

 

[RogueClimber]

My favorite fishie name:

HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKU'PUA'A Trigger Fish.

Close

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a

 

[peterak]

Close

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a

Learned that from Arthur Godfrey when I was a little kid.

"Where the humuhumunukunukuapua'a go swimming by..."

 

[RogueClimber]

Learned that from Arthur Godfrey when I was a little kid.

"Where the humuhumunukunukuapua'a go swimming by..."

I always like to test the divers on our boats. You can tell who has prepped to visit the islands

 

[tridacna]

I always like to test the divers on our boats. You can tell who has prepped to visit the islands

Easier to say Picasso trigger. I had one named Leilani in a tank for years...Couldn’t keep anything else with her!

 

[chillyinCanada]

Beautiful fish and an excellent photo of same.

 

[divinh]

Having gotten my training and done subsequent trips to Koh Tao, I have perhaps, beyond the normal level, of respect for Titan Trigger Fish. They're very aggressive there, perhaps due to all the divers. One time, we all dropped off the boat to find ourselves right above a bunch of nests. It was a big panic to swim out of there!

Once I started diving elsewhere, I would always signal for Trigger Fish, if I spotted one, and guides would be puzzled as to why I was concerned.

I do have a Titan Trigger Fish to thank for finally getting me my first Whale Shark experience. We were being chased by a Titan and finally got out of the area. The instructor turned around to check on us, to make sure the Titan lost interest and he started frantically pointing behind us. We thought maybe the Titan was back, but then the instructor signaled Whale Shark...