Meiacanthus
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
Meiacanthus mossambicus, Mozambique Fangblenny. Scott W. Michael
Family: Blenniidae
Species in Genus Meiacanthus:
LYRETAILED FANG BLENNIES
These blennies spend most of their time swimming in the water column. They are more brazen because they have venomous fangs, but use them mostly in defense against would-be attackers. They will not nip at corals.
Feed them finely chopped seafood, mysid shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and Cyclop-eeze (their mouths are relatively small, so make sure the food offered is small enough). They do best when housed with live rock as they hunt tiny crustaceans on the rock as well as feed on zooplankton produced by rock-dwellers.
There are several Meiacanthus species that have been raised in captivity. They are demersal spawners that deposit their eggs in a shell or crevice. House only one fang blenny per tank unless you can acquire a pair (males will fight). They rarely bother other fishes, with the possible exception of congeners. They are usually ignored by their tankmates because of their venomous fangs. That said, individuals may be harried by territorial species like dottybacks and damselfishes.
| Family | Blenniidae + |
| Image credit | SWM + |
| Reference | A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes + |
| Text credit | SWM + |