How to know whether a triggerfish is about to attack?

[dive_lover88]

I'm curious about ways to know whether a triggerfish(esp titan trigger) is about to attack? so that i can avoid them and get as far away from them as possible, still kinda freaked after the close call with one.
And also do triggerfishes bulid nests in group as in like a colony?

 

[The Chairman]

They are more prone to attack when you are not looking. Sneaky, sneaky!

My left ear lobe bears the scar of an aggressive damsel fish, allegedly guarding her domain. I don't but that at all! These sneaky little buggers wait for an opening and then inflict as much damage as possible.

 

[Mick_O]

Dam(n)sels are notoriously aggressive and territorial. Us reefers (reeftank keepers) know this. There's a saying that if a damsel was 10' long, the great white would run in fear. That's why you mostly keep them in small schools - they're too busy watching their back to cause any trouble.

As far as triggers - if it's coming at you at high speed, looking angry, I'd say that's an indicator.

 

[dive_lover88]

wow!! then i muz be really living a blessed life!!My dive mates told me that the titan triggerfish(full-grown) swam up to my face and U-turned away...but i was not even aware of it...THANK GOD!!

 

[Vie]

I'm curious about ways to know whether a triggerfish(esp titan trigger) is about to attack? so that i can avoid them and get as far away from them as possible, still kinda freaked after the close call with one.
And also do triggerfishes bulid nests in group as in like a colony?

Titans are usually pretty solitary. The Yellow margins do stay closer together but not as a colony—they barely tolerate each other. The Titans have a kind of invisible border and if you exit their “area” they’ll leave you alone. Mostly a Titan will try to intimidate you by charging but actually biting is relatively rare (compared to the number of charges made).

 

[ReefGuy]

One thing to remember about triggers is that their territory is conical. If you get an agressive trigger, swim away and down to get out of their territory asap.

 

[Wolverine]

well i got a picture of one just before it charged at me...

Notice the "trigger" is fully extended... sure sign it is pissed... the next second it charged right at me and I fended it off with my camera (actually knocked it on the head!)...

 

[the_cat_keeper]

Titans are usually pretty solitary. The Yellow margins do stay closer together but not as a colony—they barely tolerate each other. The Titans have a kind of invisible border and if you exit their “area” they’ll leave you alone. Mostly a Titan will try to intimidate you by charging but actually biting is relatively rare (compared to the number of charges made).

I was told by some people that their territory is cone shaped, and the Titan would give chase if the diver fins upwards so the way to avoid an attack is to zig-zagged out of its territory.

 

[baitedstorm]

I'll take a shark over a Trigger fish any day.... As for those Dam(s)el fish, they crack me up... I was fanning sand off the reef and had one bite my glove, I gave her a quick little flick with my finger and that damn fish came back for more. Of course I didn't sit there and annoy her ....hehehehehehehe, I was truly amazed at the tenacity of such little creatures.

 

[Randy43068]

I'll take a shark over a Trigger fish any day.... As for those Dam(s)el fish, they crack me up... I was fanning sand off the reef and had one bite my glove, I gave her a quick little flick with my finger and that damn fish came back for more. Of course I didn't sit there and annoy her ....hehehehehehehe, I was truly amazed at the tenacity of such little creatures.

dont'cha pick on something your own size! <snickering>