Canary Fang Blenny

[edit] Overview

This bright yellow blenny has both beauty and a secret weapon--venomous fangs. While not a risk for the aquarist or non-aggressive tankmates, it will bite in self-defense if another fish attempts to attack it.

[edit] Feeding

Carnivore. Feed small meaty foods, including Mysis shrimp and frozen or dried cyclops, at least twice a day. It will graze on small invertebrates that live in live rock and may need to be fed more often if these animals are not present in your tank.

[edit] Aquarium Compatibility

This blenny will ignore its tankmates as long as they do not attempt to eat it, in which case any attacker is in store for an unexpected dose of pain. A large fish that swallows one of these blennies will usually be bitten in the mouth after ingesting its prey.

[edit] Breeding/Propagation

Demersal (on or near the bottom) spawners that tend and protect their broods. Captive spawning does occur.

[edit] Notes

Once introduced to this fish's large fangs, even aggressive tankmates will typically ignore them. Keep only one per tank (can be kept in heterosexual pairs, but they are difficult to sex). You can keep it with other members of the genus Meiacanthus (add all members of the genus to the tank simultaneously. It is not afraid to spend much of its time hovering and swimming in the open. When it hides, it usually backs into holes with its head protruding.

Category: Species