Sargassum Trigger
Xanthichthys ringens
| 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 | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Bold |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Planktivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 180 gallons |
| Max Size | 10 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Sargassum Trigger (Xanthichthys ringens), also called the Redtail Triggerfish, is a Western Atlantic triggerfish with a light bluish-tan body, fine dark spotting, and an orange-red edged tail. It spends much of the day cruising the water column like a true planktivorous trigger, making quick turns to intercept food as it drifts by.
What You’ll Observe:
- Active midwater “patrol” laps, then smooth glides back to a favorite area
- A strong “food response,” often meeting you at the front glass at feeding time
- Confident feeding in the water column, especially when food is offered into flow
- A consistent evening routine of returning to a preferred cave or overhang to rest
Provide open swimming lanes with secure rockwork and a few caves it can use as a home base. Offer frequent small meals of meaty foods (mysis, finely chopped seafood) along with quality pellets so it stays engaged in the water column. With steady feeding and calm tankmates, it settles into a predictable, active daily rhythm.
Will it bother cleaner shrimp or crabs once it’s established?
Many keepers report it focuses on prepared foods, but small crustaceans can still register as natural prey; larger, well-established shrimp tend to do better than tiny new additions.
Does it prefer open water or tight rock mazes?
Most owners see it spend more time cruising midwater than weaving through rock, so open lanes plus a few defined retreats usually works best.
How do you get it onto pellets?
Mix pellets into frozen foods at first, then offer pellets when it’s already in “feeding mode” and chasing food in the current.
Can you keep two together?
Success is most common when adding smaller individuals and introducing them close together in time, so neither fish is claiming the entire tank as its personal route.
Why does it “click,” grunt, or lock its top spine?
These are normal triggerfish behaviors—spine-locking helps it wedge securely into a sleeping spot, and clicking/grunting is part of their typical communication and display.
We work with trusted suppliers who keep our specimens healthy and well-fed before shipping.
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