Striped Blenny

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Moderate   • Temperament: Semi-aggressive   • Maximum Size: 5"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-80° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Family: Blenniidae   • Species: Blennies   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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The Striped Blenny (also called the Striped Fang Blenny) can be found swimming among the tropical reefs within its native range of the Indo-Pacific. Striped Blennies are popular choices for "nano" systems as well as larger reef tanks; they are very active swimmers and are constantly on the move in the water column when not searching for food on the live rock. The Striped Blenny is one of the few species that possess enlarged fangs with associated venom sacs which are primarily used as a retaliatory defense and serve as a deterrent to predators; their bite is not lethal to humans but it is painful (hand-feeding is not recommended).

Striped Blennies have beautiful colors and distinct markings. They have contrasting, alternating black and white horizontal stripes running the length of their entire mass (including the caudal fins) with a brilliant yellow wash that starts at the head and usually fades off at and angle halfway down their dorsal half, just past their operculum on their lateral sides, and right after their neck on their ventral side.

Striped Blennies are an active species and will spend most of their time in the water column looking for food and enjoying life. They require an aquarium of at least 30 gallons and should be provided with plenty of live rock for hiding places and invertebrate hunting. Blennies can be jumpers, so a hood or other secure top is recommended for their aquarium. The Striped Blenny is usually a peaceful fish, normally ignoring other inhabitants unless threatened or it notices a tank mate that is the same species, closely related, or appears to be one of the two; then it may exhibit aggression and/or show territorial tendencies. They are much better off in a reef environment as opposed to other saltwater aquarium setups.

The Striped Blenny is omnivorous and in its natural environment, it can normally be found cruising for small invertebrates (mainly amphipods, copepods, isopods, and brine) in the water column; they will also hunt within the reef and substrate. In an aquarium, they should be fed a variety of live, frozen, freeze-dried, and vitamin enriched brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and finely chopped krill as well as various quality omnivore oriented pellets and flake foods. An aquarium with a live amphipod, copepod, and isopod population would be a real treat for this species. Feed once or twice per day.