All fish / Blenniidae

Canary Fang Blenny

Meiacanthus oualanensis

Also known as canary blenny, fiji fang blenny, golden fang blenny, yellow fang blenny, canary fangblenny, oualan forktail blenny, イエローファングブレニー, 金黄稻䲁, 金毒牙鳚

A slender, bright canary yellow blenny with a long dorsal fin and a forked tail that swims openly in midwater, unlike most blennies. It is hardy, reef safe and adds strong colour to community reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

115 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Fiji, Tonga and nearby islands

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs in a shelter or small cave, and the male guards them until they hatch. Spawning happens fairly often in aquariums and the larvae have been reared by experienced keepers and commercial hatcheries.

Good to know

It has venomous fangs used for defence, so predators learn to avoid it; it can be quarrelsome with other blennies and similar-shaped fish. Keep only one per tank unless you have a confirmed pair.