🐠 Sargassum Triggerfish (Xanthichthys ringens)
Purple-Blue Gill Stripes and a Red-Trimmed Tail • Independently Moving Eyes • One of the Gentlest Triggerfish
 
📋 The Sargassum Triggerfish, also sold as the Red Tail Triggerfish, has an elegant tan-to-powder-blue body with dark speckling, three stacked purple-to-blue stripes across the gill area, and a bright red-to-maroon trim around its tail. Its eyes move independently, so it can watch for both predators and prey at the same time.
It comes from the tropical reefs of the Western Atlantic and the Caribbean. Adults live on seaward reef slopes, while juveniles shelter in floating sargassum seaweed, which gives the species its name. It's one of the least aggressive triggerfish and a standout for reef aquariums, since it typically ignores sessile invertebrates. It's shy when first introduced but soon gains confidence, and it spits water at the surface in anticipation of feeding.
It's reef safe with caution: larger fish may eat ornamental shrimp, small fish, and other crustaceans, so it suits a spacious, fish-focused reef best. It reaches up to 25cm, so plan on at least 265L, and use a tight lid.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 Purple-Blue Gill Stripes, Red-Trimmed Tail: An elegant, powder-blue triggerfish
👀 Independently Moving Eyes: Scans for predators and prey at once
😌 One of the Gentlest Triggerfish: A reef-friendly standout
🌿 Reef Safe With Caution: Typically ignores sessile invertebrates
💦 Spits Water: A charming feeding-time habit