Canary Fang Blenny

The canary fang blenny is recognized by its slender, elongated body, almost entirely bright canary yellow; the head has a slight greenish tint and there is a small dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin. It is endemic to Fiji. It belongs to the same genus as the striped fang blenny (Meiacanthus grammistes), which has its own page on this site.

Meiacanthus blennies have two large grooved fangs in the lower jaw, connected to a venom gland. A predator that takes this fish into its mouth spits it out right away because of the venom; for this reason many predators do not hunt it, and other fish species mimic the colors of these blennies. The venom poses no serious danger to people, but do not handle the fish with bare hands. Unlike other blennies, it mostly swims in open water instead of perching on rocks.

It lives on the reefs of Fiji, in shallow areas rich in coral. It hovers in the water column a little above the bottom, catching zooplankton and small invertebrates; it spends the night and moments of danger in small holes in rock or coral crevices.

• Volume: at least 110 liters; an aquarium with open swimming space.
• Water: salinity 1.023–1.026 specific gravity, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Layout: rocks with small holes and empty tubes to spend the night in; free swimming space at the front.
• Reef compatibility: reef safe; it leaves corals, shrimp and snails alone.
• Lid: blennies can jump; a covered aquarium is safe.

Carnivorous. It readily accepts frozen mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and fine granules or flakes. Feed small amounts twice a day. Unlike the blennies that graze algae on rocks, it does not feed on algae; it depends on prepared food.

Peaceful and active; it stays visible in the middle layers of the aquarium. It can be territorial toward its own species and similarly shaped blennies. It uses its venomous fangs only in self-defense; it does not bother other fish.

Good companions: clownfish, chromis, cardinalfish, gobies, dwarf angelfish, tangs, wrasses, ornamental shrimp.

Avoid: other Meiacanthus species (in a small aquarium), aggressive damsels and large territorial fish that would chase it constantly.

Kept singly. A mated pair can live in a large aquarium, but two unfamiliar adults, especially two males, will fight. Do not keep different Meiacanthus species in the same aquarium.

The male chooses a cavity or empty shell; the female lays her adhesive eggs inside this nest. The male guards the eggs until they hatch. The larvae are planktonic; although the genus Meiacanthus has been bred in aquariums, raising them in a home aquarium is difficult.

• A hardy species; keep new fish in quarantine for 3–4 weeks.
• Marine white spot and velvet: watch for them during quarantine.
• Its bite usually causes no more than minor pain in people; still, be careful when working in the aquarium.

There is no reliable external difference. A female carrying eggs has a fuller belly; the fish that chooses and guards the nest is the male.