All fish / Blenniidae

Mozambique Fangblenny

Meiacanthus mossambicus

Also known as mozambique fang blenny, yellowtail fangblenny, yellow tail fang blenny, mossambicus blenny, yellow fangblenny, fang blenny, 莫桑比克稀棘鳚

A slender blenny with a greyish blue front half that shades into a bright yellow rear and tail, with a dark stripe behind the eye. It swims openly in midwater rather than perching like most blennies, so it is a lively, visible addition to reef tanks and is safe with corals.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair; avoid more than one male in small tanks

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, quality pellets and flakes

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Indian Ocean: East Africa from Kenya to South Africa, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs in a cave or empty shell and the male guards them until they hatch. Spawning happens in home aquariums, but raising the tiny planktonic larvae needs rotifers and is challenging, though it has been done.

Good to know

Its venomous fangs mean predators that try to eat it may be harmed, and it can bite if handled. It may nip at very small or slow fish and is often confused with similar yellow-tailed fangblennies such as Meiacanthus atrodorsalis.