TankBud

Canary fang blenny

Meiacanthus oualanensis

Also known as Canary Blenny, Oualan Forktail Blenny

SaltwaterFish

Canary fang blenny (Meiacanthus oualanensis)
Lonnie Huffman · CC BY 3.0

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
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Blenniidae
Origin
Western Pacific reefs, native only to Fiji

Overview

The canary fang blenny is a small venomous blenny that cruises the middle of a saltwater reef tank. It is a step up from the easiest marine fish and suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The canary fang blenny has a narrow natural range around a single island group. Even so, captive-breeding programs now supply a good share of the fish sold in the hobby, which eases pressure on its limited wild population.

Caring for the canary fang blenny

Give the canary fang blenny at least 40 gal (150 L), with open water for cruising and plenty of live rock to retreat into. Unlike most blennies, it swims through the water column rather than perching on rock. A tight-fitting lid is essential, since it jumps through any gap.

Hold the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed a varied diet of mysis, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped crustacean flesh and frozen herbivore preparations. It also grazes on algae and picks at pods between meals.

The canary fang blenny is semi-aggressive toward other fang blennies and similarly shaped fish, but a good citizen otherwise. It leaves corals, clams and most invertebrates alone. Keep it singly or as a mated pair, never with an unrelated second fish of its kind. Breeding it is hard.

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 it gives a sharp, localized sting. The venom contains opioid-like compounds and enzymes similar to those in some snake venoms. It is widely available in the aquarium trade, sold also as the canary blenny or the Oualan forktail blenny.

In the wild

The canary fang blenny is known only from the reefs around Fiji, one of the most restricted native ranges of any Meiacanthus species. It lives on shallow flats and lagoon margins. It shelters in holes left by boring worms and other reef debris.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

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.

What does a canary fang blenny eat?

A canary fang blenny eats mysis, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped crustacean flesh and frozen herbivore preparations. Between meals it grazes on algae and picks at pods.

How big does a canary fang blenny get?

An adult canary fang blenny reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

Related species