Are triggerfish this aggressive?

[String]

The Titan Triggerfish is notoriously aggressive, but generally only when nesting.

There is one on the eastern (deep drop off, no sandy bottom) side of woodhouse that seems to just like attacking for no reason.

Also yesterday, a clownfish about the size of a packet of cigarettes made a valiant attempt to eat me... what it is about these things that have got far bigger cohonjes than your average great white shark I will never know.

If clownfish were a metre long nobody would ever get in the sea. They really do have no fear and will go for ANYTHING. Ive been bitten (if you can call it that) hundreds of times by the damn thing. The nest at 3m on the exit from the blue hole must 'assault' about 100 divers a day every day!

 

[Cave Diver]

If clownfish were a metre long nobody would ever get in the sea. They really do have no fear and will go for ANYTHING. Ive been bitten (if you can call it that) hundreds of times by the damn thing. The nest at 3m on the exit from the blue hole must 'assault' about 100 divers a day every day!

Clownfish are the chihuahua's of the sea.

 

[oldogre]

I was "attacked" by a Triggerfish in Tenerife, firstly it butted my tank, thinking it was another diver with poor buoyancy I paid no attention, it then charged me hitting my mask - I got out fast!. Damsel fish no problem, but they are NOT afraid of divers. Roncadores (Bastard Grunt), as in Nemo are great fun, you can either swim through the huge shoal, or better still, stay motionless in their route, and they will swim around you only inches away.

 

[String]

Clownfish are the chihuahua's of the sea.

That's a bit unfair. I dont want to repeatedly batter a clownfish in the face with a stick. The same can't be said for those ridiculous vermin rat-dog things....

 

[AleG]

Here in Thailand the Titans seem not very aggressive, I don't recall diving during March so that's probably biasing my perception. (is it really March their nesting season?). Several times I've found myself close to a Titan without any ill effects, maybe they subscribe to the Thai "Mai pen rai" (no problem) mantra.
On the other hand, in Sipadan they seem just vicious, in a single dive along the wall (bottom 900 meters or so down) I saw at least two divers attacked, at another time a girl in the group got bit in the head.

The only critter even more aggressive is the Damsel fish.

hehehe True!

It's like they have their version of the death by a thousand nibbles.

"Oh, me angryyy!!
Nibble-nibble
Take that, you big ape!
nibble-nibble
53, 54, 55...
You're going down, pal!
Nibble-nibble-nibble"

First time I felt pinpricks on my legs, arms or face I thought I was going trough some jellyfish congregation, until I noticed this little fellow looking vewy, vewy angry, going all banzai on me. Very amusing.

 

[abu]

Haven't been attacked, but have certainly had severe warnings, at which point you can either stop where you are or, if that doesn't satisfy, back off and swim around. Of course, if you don't see it coming or don't recognize the symptoms, well...

 

[jupitermermaid]

I love all creatures of the sea, and never thought triggerfish to be aggressive......UNTIL!!!! One day I was diving, and a beautiful triggerfish came face-to-face with me. I thought (s)he was being inquisitive, and we checked each other out. Even after (s)he started nibbling on the bubbles on my mask I was thinking, "How cute!" Then the darn thing darted to my ear and bit me so hard I ended up with an unasked for extra "piercing" in my ear. Yeah, the freaken thing bit a hole in my ear! A scientist who studies fish behavior happened to be on the boat, and he explained to me that a triggerfish is like a landowner....they "own" the area from the core of the earth to the highest area in the sky, especially if there is a nest they are protecting (even if it's 80' below, but in the area you're hanging out for your safety stop).

I still love and appreciate the beautiful critters of the ocean, but when I see a triggerfish heading for me, I now know it's not being inquisitive, it's being territorial, and I try to swim out of it's range before continuing my ascent. I believe in giving them their territorial rights. If I'm in their property, I'm tresspassing and need to get off their "property," for fboth their and my best interest.

 

[captain]

One decided to latch on to my friend's hand at the web between the thumb and first finger. It wouldn't let go and he had to surface to get it off.

 

[finbob]

While diving this February in Pereybere, Mauritius I was attacked by a good size Titan Triggerfish. She(?) charged at me and then at the last moment broke away, she then turned for a second charge and again broke away. I realized that she was defending her eggs, so I swam away before another charge took place. While finning away, I felt a brush on my left side. Fortunately, I was not injured. On reflection, her teeth look quite intimidating and no doubt could do some damage if she had got hold of me!

 

[Wisnu]

this huge triggerfish ambushed me at Batu Tokong, P. Weh, Indonesia. I bring a camera with me.

picture is not good, my hand was trembling when this bastard in front of me.
Not sure what happen, less than 1 meter, she stopped and moved to other direction - may be my camera strobe frightened her or my position was slightly outside the territory - as I dive close to the bottom, the cone area is small.