redtail triggerfish
Xanthichthys mento
Triggerfish that forms schools over reefs and near oceanic islands in the eastern Pacific, with a red tail in males. It is harmless to anglers.
Also called: peixe-porco-de-cauda-vermelha, puerco de cola roja, redtail triggerfish
- maximum
- 30 cm
- depth
- 6–130 m
who is the redtail triggerfish
Triggerfish of the family Balistidae, with a short, deep body, which forms schools over reefs at the edge of drop-offs, mainly near oceanic islands and coastal reefs. It occurs from Mexico to Colombia and Chile, at depths of 6 to 130 m, and reaches 30 cm. It feeds on zooplankton. Males hold territory for spawning and care, but not for feeding. Only females care for the eggs, and both parents guard the site. It is taken commercially, and also for aquariums.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the redtail triggerfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Short, deep body. Males are straw-yellow, with each scale outlined in black, forming a checkerboard, and the tail is red with a neon-blue band near the edge. Females have the checkerboard on a slate-gray to bluish background, with the tail also bluish. Balistes polylepis, from the same coast, reaches 76 cm, much more than the 30 cm of this species.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Occurs in the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Colombia and Chile, near reefs and oceanic islands. The species also lives in other parts of the Pacific, such as Hawaii and southern Japan.
Habitat: Reefs and drop-offs, in schools near the bottom and in the water column, from 6 to 130 m.
rules for the redtail triggerfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Harmless to anglers. Hold it by the body and release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02692, b = 2.91; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Xanthichthys mento (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Xanthichthys mentoNames by country and language.
