Barnacle Blenny questions!!! PLEASE :)

Stew18 · Jan 20, 2016

I have been doing some research on the barnacle benny. I am interested in getting one for my 40. I have some questions that I am having a hard time getting the answers for...... So I have come to the place that tolerates ALL my questions :)

1. My local fish store has a evybrown barnacle benny. How is that different than other barnacle blennies?

2. Can I keep more than one barnacle benny in my 40?

3. If I got a barnacle benny or 2 would I be able to get a starry benny in the future or are they not compatible?

4. Lastly, I heard that smaller fish like the barnacle benny are harder to QT. Is there any truth to that?

5. Is there anyone who has a barnacle and can tell me about their personalities and how they compare to a starry which I have had before. Pictures would be awesome

Thank you so much for your time and this place is SOOOOOO helpful

Stew

eatbreakfast · Jan 20, 2016

Barnacle blennies are significantly smaller than algae blennies. If the barnacle blennies are in the tank first there should be no issues. They will find a little hole or crevice in the rockwork. Barnacle blennies are very social with one another, and a small colony is a lot of fun to watch.

Eyebrow barnacle blennies are just another species of barnacle blenny, whose cirrhites, their "eyebrew" is significantly larger.

Barnacle blennies do just fine in qt.

Stew18 · Jan 20, 2016

Mr Eatbreakfast,

You always come through when I need you.. Good thing you don't charge per questions or you would be rich :)

Lionfish Lair · Jan 20, 2016

It was the most interesting tank to feed in the house. They looked like popcorn. You just need to have enough places for them to hide. The holes can't be too big or too small. They loved empty cocoworm tubes and large snail shells. The natural small holes in the rock were king. Whoever got those, ruled the world.

Lionfish Lair · Jan 20, 2016

They actually weren't interested in the barnacles I put in there. Every now and then you would see one in there, but not for any length of time.

Katrina71 · Apr 27, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
Barnacle blennies are significantly smaller than algae blennies. If the barnacle blennies are in the tank first there should be no issues. They will find a little hole or crevice in the rockwork. Barnacle blennies are very social with one another, and a small colony is a lot of fun to watch.

Eyebrow barnacle blennies are just another species of barnacle blenny, whose cirrhites, their "eyebrew" is significantly larger.

Barnacle blennies do just fine in qt.

I'm concerned about our tank being young. I've read they do well in a mature tank. Lfs said it would be perfect since we have barnacles. Do I need to be concerned? Water parameters are good.

eatbreakfast · Apr 28, 2017

Katrina71 said:
I'm concerned about our tank being young. I've read they do well in a mature tank. Lfs said it would be perfect since we have barnacles. Do I need to be concerned? Water parameters are good.

As long as the tank can handle ammonia the barnacle blennies will be fine. They don't need a mature tank. They will eat readily what you feed.

Best Fish-Jake · Apr 28, 2017

Def one of my favorite nano fish!

Katrina71 · May 7, 2017

Lionfish Lair said:
It was the most interesting tank to feed in the house. They looked like popcorn. You just need to have enough places for them to hide. The holes can't be too big or too small. They loved empty cocoworm tubes and large snail shells. The natural small holes in the rock were king. Whoever got those, ruled the world.

Where can I get cocoworm tubes?

eatbreakfast · May 8, 2017

Katrina71 said:
Where can I get cocoworm tubes?

Try an LFS. Many carry cocoworms. See if they have any exacuared tubes.

If not, barnacle blennies make due with any holes in rocks that they can fit their bodies in.

Daniel@R2R · May 9, 2017

Great...now I think I need to buy a bunch of barnacle blennies for my reef... ;Wacky :D

want2bsleepy · May 9, 2017

what do they eat?

eatbreakfast · May 9, 2017

want2bsleepy said:
what do they eat?

They're not picky. They will eat any meaty food in the water column.

BMan · May 10, 2017

I can't answer all your questions but I can offer my experience. I have a 29 gallon JBJ. The Barnacle Blenny is probably one of my favorite fish. It is not aggressive. Eats all types of food. It is just a fun peaceful fish to own. It doesn't take up any real space as far as swimming in the water column. For me that's a plus. Keep that in mind. This fish is pretty content to just hang around in his little home. I keep him with a Midas Blenny, Randall's Goby, Two Spot Goby, Neon Red Goby, Scooter Blenny and a pair of Clowns.
The only fish actively swimming in the open are the Clowns and sometimes the Midas Blenny.
I had it in QT for 6 weeks. It did fine. I put a few shells for it to hide in and make it feel safe. They QT with no problems at all.