Crosshatch Triggerfish

This is *THE* most wanted trigger on the planet, months between specimens, usually available one at a time, always a waiting list. Be prepared to jump on it immediately when available because your window of opportunity to grab is a matter of hours once we say "we have one".

With a limited distribution and inhabiting deep water, Xantyhicthys mento is one of the Holy Grails of Triggerfishes. This is one of the less aggressive members of the family. It feeds on zooplankton. It can be kept with moderately-aggressive tankmates and can even be kept in groups (one male and one or more females) in extra large aquariums. This trigger rarely bothers its tankmates. Like many triggers, it is often shy when first added to the aquarium, but becomes bolder as it learns to associate its caretaker with food. Being a planktivore, it will not harm corals in the reef aquarium.

Everyone wants small male crosshatch for his or her reef tank. Good luck with that. Males simply do not exist in smaller sizes. Just like your four your old son doesn't need to shave yet… same thing with fish. It's not gonna happen until he's much larger. A smaller crosshatch will always be a female. A 4" specimen will not look like an 8" mature adult, and even males and females are almost impossible to differentiate and they're still then they're both spectacular. Those in the know jump on *any* crosshatch trigger that is available.

Latin Name: Xanthicthys mento

Common Name: Crosshatch Trigger

Also known as: Mento Trigger

Origin: Indo Pacific

Minimum Aquarium Size: 55 Gallon

Diet and Feeding: Meaty foods and frozen preparations for herbivores. Feed young individuals several times a day.

Difficulty: 5 (5=Easy 1=Difficult)

Reef Compatibility: Members if the genus Xanthicthys are planktivores and rarely bother corals or clams in the reef aquarium.

Related Fish: Bluejaw Trigger, Goldenback Trigger, Sargassum Triggerfish