Blenny fish for sale: types, care, and tankmates
Blennies are small, bottom-oriented saltwater fish with big eyes, expressive faces, and a habit of perching on rock to watch the tank. In the hobby they fall into two broad groups. Grazing blennies, like the Lawnmower, Starry, and Redlip, scrape film algae and diatoms from rock and glass. Fang blennies in the genus Meiacanthus are sleeker open-water swimmers that defend themselves with a venomous bite. The Midas Blenny sits between the two: a close relative of the grazers that swims in open water and feeds on zooplankton.
Popular types of blennies
- Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus): also sold as the Sailfin or Jewelled Blenny. A mottled, well-camouflaged algae grazer for mature reefs of 30 gallons or more.
- Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus): a dark blenny covered in white star-like spots. An algae grazer that can be territorial toward similar fish.
- Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas): golden-yellow to orange with blue-rimmed eyes. Unlike most blennies, it spends much of its time swimming in open water and feeds heavily on zooplankton.
- Redlip Blenny (Ophioblennius atlanticus): an Atlantic grazer with red to orange lips. It can reach about 7.5 inches and is more territorial than smaller blennies, so plan on 55 gallons or more.
- Fang blennies (Meiacanthus): striped, peaceful open-water swimmers such as the captive-bred Striped Blenny (Meiacanthus grammistes) and the Kamohara Blenny (Meiacanthus kamoharai) from southern Japan.
- Bicolor and Tailspot blennies (Ecsenius): small, colorful grazers that suit nano and mid-size reefs. Watch Bicolors around clams and LPS, since some individuals nip.
Looking for a "scooter blenny"? Despite the name, the scooter is a dragonet, a close relative of the mandarin that needs a steady supply of copepods. Scooters are listed with our dragonets when available.
Blenny care: rockwork, a tight lid, and the right food
Most blennies want a mature aquarium with plenty of live rock, holes, and ledges where they can perch and claim a home. Grazers such as the Lawnmower and Starry depend on natural algae growth, so add them to an established tank and supplement with algae-based foods or nori if the rock runs bare. Midas and fang blennies eat mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, and finely chopped seafood; offer small meals once or twice a day. Blennies are known jumpers, so keep a tight-fitting lid or mesh screen on the tank.
Captive-bred blennies
Captive-bred Striped and Kamohara blennies are raised in aquaculture rather than collected from the reef, so they usually arrive already eating prepared foods and adjusted to aquarium life. Striped Blennies can also be kept as a small group when they are added together. Compare other aquacultured species in captive-bred saltwater fish.
Tankmates for blennies
Blennies get along with most peaceful community fish, including clownfish, gobies, cardinalfish, and wrasses. Avoid predators large enough to swallow them, such as lionfish, groupers, and eels. In smaller tanks, avoid pairing two bottom-dwelling blennies of similar shape, which tend to fight over territory, and add the most territorial species last. For more compatible picks, browse reef-safe fish, nano fish, and beginner saltwater fish, or shop all saltwater fish.
