Need help picking blenny

[Bluethumb]

I'm not a big fish guy myself. In more into coral. But my Dad has asked me to build him a tank. It's cycled and ready to go. One corner of the tank has a huge barnacle colony that any blenny could perch inside of. So the question is, what's the coolest/prettiest blenny I could put in there and what's a second fish that it would play well with?

 

[mainereefer]

starry blenny looks cool and will work for you grazing on algae in the tank

 

[Eric81]

My favorite Blenny is definitely the Midas Blenny....great coloration, temporment, and personality! I would also get a Tailspot. He would be great to perch in and out of the Barnacles. They are very social and fun to watch.

 

[Bluethumb]

I like the tailspot. What's a second fish that will utilize the barnacles?

 

[Mr tap water]

His a couple and get on well together

 

[Zero Nitrates]

I really like lawnmower blennies. They are super friendly and pretty to look at if you like the grumpy old man look.

 

[Bluethumb]

I really like lawnmower blennies. They are super friendly and pretty to look at if you like the grumpy old man look.

lol nice!

 

[Mole]

love my starry blenny, his spots come and go when he gets really excited (like feeding time) they stand out like crazy

 

[Eric81]

I like the tailspot. What's a second fish that will utilize the barnacles?

There is always the Barnacle Blenny! I have only seen them online and would love to get some oneday. I don't know much about them or know anyone who has them. They are tiny (live in the barnacles) and you are able to live in a small groups. Supposedly they hang out all day with their heads poking out of the barnacles and will race out to get food then dart right back into the barnacle for protection. I have only seen them on sale from one online vendor for $30 a piece....

 

[MatteZ]

How big is the tank? I have a Midas and it is huge! In my nano I used to have a bi-color. He was a good fish!

 

[Dustin1300]

I have lawnmower, starry, bicolor, and midas. Have to say the midas is the most active, has the most personality, and best coloration.

 

[Bluethumb]

It's a nano so a starry and a Midas are a little big. I would get a tribal if the tank was big enough.

 

[mcarroll]

How big is the tank? I have a Midas and it is huge! In my nano I used to have a bi-color. He was a good fish!

+1

If it's a smaller tank (say, 50 or less) check out the tail-spot blenny.

Of the ones you named, the algae blennies have a pretty huge appetite for algae and get pretty big so most likely I'd suggest going for the smaller one in the Bicolor, though Starry is my fav. Lawnmowers a cool, but they get really big. The Midas is completely different from the algae blennies and more like the behavior you are wanting I think....and no appetite for algae. He's a planktivore. Still pretty big if it's a smaller tank.

-Matt

 

[mainereefer]

tailspot needs a bigger tank mine is 4" and uses every bit of my 180g

 

[Bluethumb]

Bi- color it is!

 

[mcarroll]

BiColor: abt 4-5"
Tailspot: abt 2-3"

If small size is the priority then try and find a three-fin blenny (aka barnacle blenny). They're a group of much smaller blennies. I have three in my 50 gallon and love them. They're about 1.5" fully grown. They aren't algae eaters though....their appetite is more like a midas blenny's: planktivorous.

If you select any of the algae blennies, it's crucial they have plenty of algae or that you go out of your way to feed them the same as the rest of the fish. (One or the other.) :)

-Matt

 

[1.0reef]

Rhino blenny- forgot latin name
Any ORA fang blenny
Horned blenny Hypsoblennius exstochilus
Golden sailfin blenny Atrosalarias fuscus
Smaller (<2-3 inch) blennies are great for smaller <20-30 gallon tanks, larger ones should be considered for 30+ gallon tanks.

 

[650-IS350]

In regards to Blennies, here are the list i would have, for personality and look. I've kept a bunch of blennies in all my tanks, always had to due to their unique personalities.

Starry, due to its nice look and design.
Midas, always out swimming out in the middle of tank and doesn't hide much compared to most blennies.
Lawnmower, best personality always out and about, but once its gets big gets lazy, doesn't clean glass, waits for food to be fed.
Tailspot, cool, but hides or chills in its crevice too much.
Rockskipper, nice red spots, but hides a lot too.

 

[AquaAngel]

I have a Starry. He's nice. He has to hide a lot because a Tomini Tang doesn't like him much.

NiceWrasse just got Ember (aka Stigmata) blennies. Such cool and rare! See his section here. I want! Just don't have a tank for him.

 

[Bluethumb]

It's a 5G so I'm looking to put 2 fish in there.