Tankmates: Most are reef safe, but some individuals (notably Bicolor blennies and occasionally Lawnmowers) nip LPS, zoanthids or clam mantles. One blenny of a shape per tank unless large.
Feeding: Combtooth blennies are mostly grazers and can starve in new, clean tanks unless trained to prepared foods. Fang blennies (Meiacanthus) are planktivores and need meaty foods rather than algae.
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Blennies are the comedians of the reef tank. They perch on rocks with their heads poking out of holes, swivel their big eyes at everything that moves, and dart out to graze or grab food. Several species are useful algae eaters, which makes blennies a practical as well as a fun addition to a saltwater tank.
Most are small, hardy and reef safe, so they suit both nano tanks and larger reefs. FishyHub lists blennies from Malaysian marine shops and reef hobbyists, with prices in RM.
A mottled grazer that spends the day scraping film algae off rock and glass. It grows to about 13 cm and can go hungry in a very clean tank, so offer algae-based foods as well.
A bright yellow-orange blenny that swims in open water more than most and feeds on small floating foods. It may occasionally nip at LPS corals.
One of the smallest and most peaceful, at about 7 cm. A great fit for nano reefs.
Dark at the front and orange towards the tail. Hardy and active, though it can pick at some corals.
A dark blenny covered in white spots that grazes algae and stays mostly on the rockwork.
| Species | Adult size | Min. tank | Diet | Beginner? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tailspot | about 7 cm | 2 kaki / 60 cm / about 55–65 L | Omnivore, grazes | Yes |
| Bicolor | about 10 cm | 2–3 kaki / 60–90 cm / about 55–180 L | Omnivore | Yes |
| Midas | about 13 cm | 3 kaki / 90 cm / about 155–180 L | Zooplankton-type foods | Yes |
| Lawnmower, starry | about 13 cm | 3 kaki / 90 cm / about 155–180 L | Herbivore | Yes, in a mature tank |
Keep blennies at about 24–27°C. With Malaysian rooms at 26–31°C, that usually means a chiller, especially if the tank also holds corals.
Blennies are generally peaceful towards other fish but can be territorial with other blennies or similar-looking fish. Keep one blenny per tank unless you have a large tank with plenty of rockwork. They get on well with clownfish, gobies, chromis and most tangs, but avoid large predators.
Blennies love live rock with holes they can claim as a home. They also jump when startled, so a lid or mesh cover is strongly advised.
A lawnmower or starry blenny will graze film and hair algae, but it won't fix a nutrient problem by itself. In a warm tank with high nitrate and phosphate, algae will outgrow any fish. Use RO water, don't overfeed, and treat the blenny as part of your clean-up crew, not the whole solution.
Check the species and size, whether the photo shows the actual fish, and whether the seller has it eating prepared food. For algae grazers, ask whether it accepts pellets or nori. Confirm delivery, self-collect and live-arrival terms with the seller, and ask about delivery times if you're in Sabah or Sarawak.
Sesetengah jenis seperti lawnmower blenny dan starry blenny memang makan alga. Jenis lain seperti midas blenny lebih suka makanan beku dan pelet.
Biasanya tidak digalakkan dalam tank kecil kerana blenny boleh bergaduh kawasan. Satu ekor setiap tank lebih selamat.
Most are. Midas and bicolor blennies sometimes nip corals, so watch them in a reef with LPS.
The tailspot blenny is one of the best choices for a 2-foot nano reef.
Browse blennies from sellers across Malaysia, with prices in RM. They pair well with clownfish and marine gobies for a peaceful, colourful reef.
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