All fish / Blenniidae

Segmented Blenny

Salarias segmentatus

Also known as segmented blenny, segmented rockskipper, fringelip blenny, dwarf lawnmower blenny, yes blenny

A small combtooth blenny with a long, slender body, mottled brown and pale bands, and fringed cirri above the eyes. It is kept as a characterful algae grazer for nano and small reef tanks, where it perches on rocks and watches its surroundings.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

75 litres

Keep as

Keep singly or as a mated pair

Diet

Herbivore: grazes film algae and diatoms on rock, plus algae-based frozen foods and nori

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, northern Australia

Breeding

Pairs lay demersal eggs in a crevice or shell, and the male guards them until they hatch. The larvae are planktonic and rearing them in home aquariums is rarely achieved.

Good to know

Needs a mature tank with plenty of live rock and natural algae growth, or it may starve. It can be territorial towards other blennies and similar bottom-dwelling fish.