Canary fang blenny
Meiacanthus oualanensis
Also known as Canary Blenny, Oualan Forktail Blenny
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 3.9 in
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 gal
- 150 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Blenniidae
- Origin
- Western Pacific reefs, native only to Fiji
Overview
Semi-aggressive toward other fang blennies and similarly shaped fish but a good citizen otherwise, leaving corals, clams and most invertebrates alone. Keep it singly or as a mated pair rather than with an unrelated second fish of the same species. Feed a varied diet of mysis and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped crustacean flesh and frozen herbivore preparations, since it also grazes on algae and picks at pods between meals.
In the wild
Known only from the reefs around Fiji, where it lives on shallow flats and lagoon margins and shelters in holes left by boring worms and other reef debris. Give it at least 150 liters (40 gallons) with open water for cruising, since it swims through the water column rather than perching on rock like most blennies, plus plenty of live rock to retreat into. A tight-fitting lid is essential, as it jumps through any gap.
Good to know
Like other Meiacanthus species, the canary fang blenny carries a pair of venom-delivering fangs on its lower jaw used strictly in defense. A bite is not dangerous to people but delivers a sharp, localized sting from venom containing opioid-like compounds and enzymes similar to those in some snake venoms. It has one of the most restricted native ranges of any Meiacanthus species, known only from the waters around Fiji, despite being widely available in the aquarium trade.
Did you know
Despite its narrow natural range around a single island group, captive-breeding programs now supply a good share of the canary fang blennies sold in the hobby, easing pressure on its limited wild population.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Canary fang blenny is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the middle. Keep only one male per tank. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Tiger / strawberry conch
Conomurex luhuanus
Saltwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Divided leopard wrasse
Macropharyngodon bipartitus
Saltwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 55 gal (208 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Blue assessor
Assessor macneilli
Saltwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Fire shrimp
Lysmata debelius
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Fighting conch
Strombus alatus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Canary fang blenny need?
A Canary fang blenny needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Canary fang blenny need?
A Canary fang blenny is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Canary fang blenny get?
An adult Canary fang blenny reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
Related species
4.3 in (11 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Forktail fang blenny
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis
4.3 in (11 cm) · 30 gal (114 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Mozambique fangblenny
Meiacanthus mossambicus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)26 gal (100 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Disco blenny
Meiacanthus smithi
3.1 in (8 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Striped poison-fang blenny
Meiacanthus grammistes
4.3 in (11 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Blackline fang blenny
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Midas blenny
Ecsenius midas
5.1 in (13 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)