Anyone ever keep a Tessellated Blenny?

[4FordFamily]

I don't know about this fish. There is very little info on it, except that they utilize barnacles to hide in.

Definitely keep us updated. I am very interested in finding out more about this fish.

X2 that's a neat fish I've also never heard of!

 

[wowkingjames]

That is a beautiful fish, and that for the info all.

 

[Breadman03]

That blenny looks amazing! I've recently become enamored with the little fish.

Any updates? Can't wait to hear some good news about these guys.

I'm on mobile, so search is painful. You are the Chesapeake oyster reef person, right?

 

[Chasmodes]

You are the Chesapeake oyster reef person, right?

Yep, that's me! ;)

 

[Chasmodes]

Any updates? How are they doing?

 

[tj w]

Sorry about your troubles with this beautiful fish. Do you plan on acquiring another in the future? Have you tried a barnacle cluster yet. Just curious.

 

[happyhourhero]

Yeah we have brought in the clusters they were in when they were collected. I think my frillfin goby eats then once in my display. They eat well in qt.

I don't plan to try again.

 

[Baldguy]

Very cool fish. Of the ones your buddy has seen what was the max size? Do you have an idea of what they eat? Carnivore, omnivore or herbivore?

Edit ... The Tessalated is a combtooth blenny. Not sure if this helps determine what it eats though

 

[happyhourhero]

Very cool fish. Of the ones your buddy has seen what was the max size? Do you have an idea of what they eat? Carnivore, omnivore or herbivore?

Edit ... The Tessalated is a combtooth blenny. Not sure if this helps determine what it eats though

They eat frozen food in QT. I would say carnivore. Biggest we have seen is 2" tops.

 

[Chasmodes]

Wow, for some reason I thought that they were bigger than that like their Northern cousins. Interesting. Sounds like the perfect fish for a nano tank!

 

[bigdaddy20102]

Is any more info available on this fish as I've been looking for one for almost a year now

 

[DVR]

@happyhourhero I have decided to try these again so collected two last week. They have been in the tank for 5 days now and are already warming up to me. One of them comes to my fingers when feeding flake food and neither are nervous when I walk in the room now. I acquired a rock with some green algae on it to see if they eat algae as well. Have not seen them touch the algae yet but they do eat flake food no problem. Will feed them some frozen later today.

Cell phone pics of one. He darkens overall and the spots seem to turn more red when he gets excited, feeding etc...

 

[happyhourhero]

@happyhourhero I have decided to try these again so collected two last week. They have been in the tank for 5 days now and are already warming up to me. One of them comes to my fingers when feeding flake food and neither are nervous when I walk in the room now. I acquired a rock with some green algae on it to see if they eat algae as well. Have not seen them touch the algae yet but they do eat flake food no problem. Will feed them some frozen later today.

Cell phone pics of one. He darkens overall and the spots seem to turn more red when he gets excited, feeding etc...

Nice! Glad to see you and that you are giving them another go! Keep me updated on how they do! Prepare to be hit up consistently via PM for people wanting you to collect some for them lol.

 

[Chasmodes]

Beautiful fish DVR! Thanks for sharing!!!!

 

[Amps Reef Life]

@happyhourhero I have decided to try these again so collected two last week. They have been in the tank for 5 days now and are already warming up to me. One of them comes to my fingers when feeding flake food and neither are nervous when I walk in the room now. I acquired a rock with some green algae on it to see if they eat algae as well. Have not seen them touch the algae yet but they do eat flake food no problem. Will feed them some frozen later today.

Cell phone pics of one. He darkens overall and the spots seem to turn more red when he gets excited, feeding etc...

That's an AWESOME fish!!!! Thank you for sharing! Never seen one before.

 

[Potatohead]

What a cool fish. Great thread :)

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Any new info on successfully keeping these? I'd be interested in adding one if they're doable.

 

[DVR]

Well I’ve kept two now for almost two months successfully. They are dedicated to their own tank. I would say they are like any other blenny. Very skittish and hide a lot at first but once settled in they are not shy. They are omnivores. I have been able to feed them all the normal marine foods including flake.

Overall neat fish to keep and observe.

I talked with the Florida fish and wildlife about possibly selling some and the answer was no. Even though they are not native to this area it is still not allowable to sell them.

So if anyone wants the location to try and go collect for yourselves if your close or a local just pm me and I’ll be happy to tell you.

 

[happyhourhero]

Well I’ve kept two now for almost two months successfully. They are dedicated to their own tank. I would say they are like any other blenny. Very skittish and hide a lot at first but once settled in they are not shy. They are omnivores. I have been able to feed them all the normal marine foods including flake.

Overall neat fish to keep and observe.

I talked with the Florida fish and wildlife about possibly selling some and the answer was no. Even though they are not native to this area it is still not allowable to sell them.

So if anyone wants the location to try and go collect for yourselves if your close or a local just pm me and I’ll be happy to tell you.

Have they maintained their colors and do they come out a lot now?

 

[DVR]

Wow sorry I missed this post.

Yes they have maintained the colors. Maybe a tad less vibrant but still very close. Not sure if a food supplement would help to bring the vibrance back some.

They do come out a lot. Not shy at all. I'm thinking about converting my 25 lagoon to a gulf tank with a small colony of them. Maybe 6. I think that would be a cool and interesting display.