Goldenback Trigger
Xanthichthys caeruleolineatus
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
|---|
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 300 gallons+ |
| Max Size | 12 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Goldenback Trigger (Xanthichthys caeruleolineatus) is a deepwater Xanthichthys triggerfish known for clean blue facial lines and a warm golden tone across the upper body. It comes from the Indo-West Pacific and is encountered far deeper than many common reef fish, which is a big reason it’s rarely seen in home aquariums.
What You’ll Observe:
- Cruises the water column with steady, confident swimming
- Learns your feeding routine and often comes to the front glass quickly
- Uses a favorite cave or overhang as a consistent “home base”
- Shows strong interest in food and takes meaty items from mid-water
- Settles into a predictable day-to-day pattern once established
Provide open swimming room plus stable rockwork with a few caves for retreat. Offer a varied meaty diet (frozen and prepared foods) and mix in algae sheets or similar offerings so meals stay diverse. In large systems it’s commonly kept as a centerpiece fish, and some hobbyists keep compatible pairs.
Will it nip corals or leave SPS/LPS alone?
Many keepers report it ignores coral tissue in mixed reefs once it’s feeding well, but individual behavior varies, so observe its habits as it settles in.
Why does it disappear into the rockwork after introduction?
It’s common for the fish to “claim” a cave early and spend extra time there while it maps the tank and gets comfortable with activity outside the glass.
Will it take pellets and nori, or only frozen foods?
Hobbyists often get them onto pellets and algae sheets along with frozen meaty foods; offering a mix usually produces the most consistent feeding response.
Does it interact with the owner like other Xanthichthys triggers?
Owners frequently describe personable behavior such as begging at the surface and learning who brings food, especially once the fish has a routine.
Why is this species so hard to find compared to bluethroat/crosshatch triggers?
It’s typically collected from much deeper reef zones, and that collection difficulty leads to inconsistent availability and wider price swings.
Shipped with pure oxygen and temperature control so it arrives stress-free and ready to eat.
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