Pinktail Triggerfish
Melichthys vidua
The Pinktail Triggerfish is a highly attractive, boldly marked species that is considered one of the most docile and reef-compatible triggerfish available to aquarists.
Ideal Conditions
- Temperature
- 23 – 27 °C
- pH range
- 8.1 – 8.4
- Hardness
- 14 – 22 dGH
- Salinity
- 1.02 – 1.026 SG
- Adult size
- 25 – 35 cm
- 500L (Adult)
- 500 litres+
- Lifespan
- 10 – 15 years
- Diet
- omnivore
- Water flow
- moderate_to_strong
- Preferred setup
- Ample swimming space with sturdy rockwork for hiding and sleeping.
About the Pinktail Triggerfish
Boasting a robust, laterally compressed body typical of its family, the Pinktail Triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) is instantly recognisable. Its deep olive to green-black body provides a stunning contrast to its translucent white dorsal and anal fins, which are strikingly bordered in dark bands, while the tail graduates into a brilliant, vivid pink. Although reaching an impressive 35 cm in the wild, it grows slowly and often caps out slightly smaller in aquaria. It enjoys a reputation as a 'gentle giant' among triggers, bringing tremendous personality and intelligence to the home aquarium without the extreme belligerence seen in its cousins.
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Is it right for your tank?
Check Pinktail Triggerfish against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.
Where Pinktail Triggerfish comes from
Native range
Indo-Pacific
Countries / regions
Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, United States (Hawaii), South Africa, Japan
Habitat
Seaward reefs and clear lagoons with abundant coral and rock crevices.
Widespread across the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea across to Hawaii and French Polynesia.
Similar species
Niger Triggerfish
Odonus niger
Bluechin Triggerfish
Xanthichthys auromarginatus
Crosshatch Triggerfish
Xanthichthys mento
We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.
Compatible tank mates
Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.
- Great
Emperor Angelfish
Pomacanthus imperator
Large, robust marine angels hold their own and occupy similar robust community environments without inciting trigger aggression.
- Great
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Active, similarly sized herbivores that easily coexist with the Pinktail Triggerfish in larger systems.
- Great
Snowflake Moray Eel
Echidna nebulosa
Bottom-dwelling predator that generally ignores mid-water swimming triggers and is tough enough not to be harassed.
- Compatible with caution
Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
While the Pinktail is more docile than other triggers, it is still an opportunistic predator of crustaceans and may view shrimp as a snack.
- Not recommended
Clown Triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum
Mixing triggerfish species often leads to severe territorial disputes and stress, particularly with highly aggressive species.
- Not recommended
Firefish
Nemateleotris magnifica
Small, timid, and slender fish can easily become an expensive meal for an adult Pinktail Triggerfish.
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