Striped poison-fang blenny
Meiacanthus grammistes
Also known as Striped Blenny, Striped Fang Blenny, Grammistes Blenny, Line-spot Harptail Blenny
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–79°F
- 23–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 4.3 in
- 11 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Blenniidae
- Origin
- Western Pacific
Overview
The striped poison-fang blenny is a hardy, generally peaceful fang blenny for a saltwater tank, and it is easy to keep.
Did you know
The striped poison-fang blenny's venomous bite makes it nearly untouchable. Several harmless species have evolved to copy its black-and-yellow striped pattern, borrowing the protection without the fangs to back it up.
Caring for the striped poison-fang blenny
Give the striped poison-fang blenny 29 gal (110 L) or more in a mature tank. Arrange plenty of live rock into caves and crevices for nesting and hiding spots. It swims and hovers in open water more than most bottom dwellers.
Hold the water at 73 to 79°F (23 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It feeds well on chopped mysis, brine shrimp and other meaty foods a few times a day. Captive-bred fish are well adapted to aquarium food.
It is coral safe and will not touch corals, but it may eat small ornamental shrimp and feather dusters. That is why it rates reef safe with caution. It can turn territorial toward other blennies, gobies and dartfish in smaller tanks, so keep one per tank unless you have a bonded pair. It is routinely captive-bred, for example by ORA, and breeding it takes some experience.
Good to know
The striped poison-fang blenny belongs to Meiacanthus, the fang blennies, in the family Blenniidae. The trade also sells it as the striped fang blenny, grammistes blenny or line-spot harptail blenny. Grooved fangs in its lower jaw deliver a venom that makes predators spit it out, and it uses them purely for defense.
In the wild
The striped poison-fang blenny is native to the western Pacific around Indonesia, the Philippines and northern Australia. It lives over coral-rich reef and rubble. It shelters in rock caves, overhangs and empty tube worm holes, hovering just above cover.
Common questions
What size tank does a striped poison-fang blenny need?
A striped poison-fang blenny needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a striped poison-fang blenny need?
A striped poison-fang blenny is comfortable at 73–79°F (23–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a striped poison-fang blenny eat?
A striped poison-fang blenny eats chopped mysis, brine shrimp and other meaty foods, fed a few times a day. Captive-bred fish are well adapted to aquarium food.
How big does a striped poison-fang blenny get?
An adult striped poison-fang blenny reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).
Related species
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)
3.9 in (10 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Canary fang blenny
Meiacanthus oualanensis
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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)
4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Molly Miller blenny
Scartella cristata
4.7 in (12 cm) · 30 gal (114 L)