By Nick Paul September 1st, 2018 No Comments. It is difficult to predict if a triggerfish is going to attack because most of the time, they do not. Triggerfish Attack. The shock of the attack was enough to elicit a frightening shriek that got the attention of everyone topside, and Vincent suffered another bite right on his derrière before he was finally able to swim away from the demon-fish. Failure to do so may result in being bitten. Normally Titan’s only attack divers if they swim in to the vicinity of their nest, however in some areas such as Koh Tao in Thailand, they radomly attack divers mainly as divers have provoked them over the years. Search Media; New Media; Members. The ‘Danger zone’ It’s nest is in the sand adjacent to or within coral. Unknowingly I got too close to the nest of a titan triggerfish, Balistoides viridescens, and it made the fish really angry. So what do you do? stock footage at 25fps. It’s also believed that they’re more aggressive in some places more than others, like Thailand and Egypt for example. The Titan triggerfish, has a fearsome reputation as it packs a mean bite and is more often the reason behind divers and snorkelers sporting teeth marks in their fins, skin, missing ears and the cause of many bruises. But oh boy my hair stood up in anticipation of an imminent attack that was just seconds away! Most angry triggerfishes are actually protecting their nests from perceived predators. 48637). Do Fish Feel Pain? They have also been observed to go for bright colors so if they come close try and get your dive fins or a hard object like an underwater camera or a dive slate or other Scuba gear between youand the titan, needless to say it’s better to have a hole in fins rather than your body! … When a titan triggerfish attacks, it will charge at you continuously until you swim out of its territory. (Then the clown triggerfish would go into a 180 gallon). #92004283 - Titan character from Attack on Titan japanese manga series. The triggerfish followed, repeatedly rushing at the diver, who warded it off with his swim fins. The titan triggerfish is usually wary of divers and snorkelers, but during the reproduction season the female guards its nest, which is placed in a flat sandy area, vigorously against any intruders. The Titan Triggerfish will not always bite, but can charge with great speed at snorkellers and divers escorting them out of their territory. The skin is thick and leather like, also for protection from spiny and spikey prey. Titan Triggerfish teeth and their bite – when attack is the best defence If you look closely at the above image, you’ll see the fearsome teeth they have. moving upward from the bottom at the same time. Titan triggerfish are considered to be the most territorial triggerfish and as many scuba divers will testify they live up to their reputation. Triggerfish are known for fiercely defending their territories and, in particular, their eggs and nesting sites. Triggerfish can be quite aggressive in Koh Tao. The Titan trigger is one of the larger (30"+) and most aggressive trigger species. This Titan triggerfish injury would have been much more serious had it not been for the protection of a thick wetsuit. This is not a fish that you should play around with as it will not only kill all your fish but will attack your hand if … That being said, I really hope you enjoy underwater clicks. Swim around the nest and not over or across the area as that’s when the female titan triggerfish tends to attack. Although titan triggerfish supposedly attack only during nesting, that doesn’t seem to be the case in our area. Aggressively Defensive. The oval shape and threatening looking teeth make them look very distinct. Jane. It was a special day because I just finalised my Dive Master Program at Phoenix Divers. I think we could all conclude that titan triggers are just pure evil... What exactly are their contribution in the eco system then? Similar ... #115022854 - Titan Triggerfish on Coral Reef in Red Sea off Sharm El Sheikh,.. As we saw recently in a previous post, your odds of being attacked by a shark , are so slim, you have better chances of winning an Oscar award or being killed by a falling aircraft. This author witnessed a 2” Undulatus attack a 15” Queensland grouper seconds after being introduced into a 200 gallon aquarium. Triggerfish eat sea urchins, mollusks and coral. They are quite large — over a foot long — and have specialized teeth and powerful jaws. The relatively small mouth with strong large teeth gives it a very powerful bite. The titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) can attack divers and bite hard enough for the victim to require medical attention. April 2014, Koh Tao, Thailand. Titan Triggerfish; Titan triggerfish are considered to be the most territorial triggerfish and as many scuba divers will testify they live up to their reputation. A new study published in the journal Fish Biology the case of a titan triggerfish that launched itself into the shallow shoreline in pursuit of crabs. Beautiful fish, great parent, but evil temper - BEWARE!!! Often hostile towards divers and may attack unprovoked when caring for eggs (Ref. It is difficult to predict if a triggerfish is going to attack because most of the time, they do not. T he Titan Triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) is also known as the Giant Triggerfish or Moustache Triggerfish. Oviparous (Ref. We will be aware of the fish with attitude and try to steer you clear of them. Grows to over 2 feet and is very aggressive, even at small sizes. "A Filipino divemaster in Malapascua told me that Titan triggerfish hate light, day or night. Choose from a wide range of similar … The only flaw in our plan was that it was mid-September and a full moon – what I now know to be nesting time for titan triggerfish. The main dorsal spine is kept erect by a second spine which locks the dorsal spine in place. Only after nearly reaching the surface, approximately 30 m from the site of the initial attack, did the fish withdraw. They'll readily attack anything in their territory including dive photographers. They create a depression in the sand of the chosen nesting area by fanning it with their caudal and dorsal fins. Then we spotted a titan triggerfish nest ahead. Mike Krampf (Houston, TX) recommends bringing a flashlight along for protection. And they love the sandy bed of a remote channel. moving upward from the bottom at the same time. You host and creator of underwater clicks. Titan triggerfish in Phuket feed on molluscs, urchins, crabs, tube worms and other invertebrates. You’ll hear them when you’re diving, as they scrape the coral with their strong teeth. There was this Titan Triggerfish just a few feet poised to make a lunge - moments later I realized he wasn't interested in me as much as the slightly long end of the weight-belt that I wore that was waving in the water like an eel... it had come off the tummy tuck and flapping freely in the currents. When you see a Titan Triggerfish nearby, it is best to just swim away or stay clear off its path. Sexually distinctive, the titan triggerfish will lay eggs that are fertilised externally. This protects the eyes when dealing with urchins and some crustaceans. If you swim on top of their nests, you are most likely to be attacked by a titan. Tips! All things considered, the Titan Triggerfish is known as the most aggressive and pushy fish you can encounter! During the reproduction season, the female guards its nest, which is placed in a flat sandy area. 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