All fish / Blenniidae

Blackline Fang Blenny

Meiacanthus nigrolineatus

Also known as blackline blenny, black-lined fangblenny, red sea fang blenny, blackline fangblenny, nigrolineatus blenny, ニグロラインファングブレニー, 黑线稀棘鳚

A slim blenny with a bluish grey front half that turns yellow towards the tail, marked by a dark line along the upper body and a lyre-shaped tail. It swims openly in midwater rather than perching, which makes it more visible than most blennies, and it is hardy and reef safe.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba

Breeding

Pairs spawn in caves or tubes and the male guards the eggs until they hatch. Spawning happens in home aquariums, but rearing the tiny larvae needs rotifers and copepods and is challenging.

Good to know

It has venomous grooved fangs, so predators that try to eat it usually spit it out, and it can nip at slow, long-finned tankmates. Keep only one per tank unless you have a proven pair, as it fights with its own kind.