Striped Poison-Fang Blenny

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Western Pacific and Indo-Pacific (Australia, Indonesia). Lives solitarily in coastal areas and protected lagoons, swimming in the open sea near the reef, unlike other blennies that crawl on the bottom.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Striped Poison-Fang Blenny (Meiacanthus grammistes). Blenny with "poison fangs". Very flexuous siluriform body. The lower jaw has two hollow fangs connected to venom glands, unique in the fish panorama.

Social Behavior: Intrepid pelagic swimmer. Wanders brazenly in the open sea, aware that predators will avoid swallowing it. If attacked, it bites the predator's palate injecting a peptide venom that lowers blood pressure, forcing it to spit it out.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: "Warning" livery (Aposematic). Bright sulfur yellow background on the whole body, crossed longitudinally by marked black bands interrupted in spots on the caudal peduncle. Lyre-shaped tail (often light blue).

Aquarium Setup: 80-100 cm (32-40 inches) marine aquarium. Loves the free water column very much (it is a blenny that does not perch). Mandatory a crevice/PVC pipe in the live rocks, exactly as big as him, where it will go to sleep wedging itself backwards.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivore (Zooplankton). Unlike Salarias that graze on algae, Grammistes eats fish eggs, mysis, copepods and brine shrimp. It quickly gets used to sinking dry granules as well.

Water Quality: Very robust and tolerant. It has no particular chemical requirements outside the normal marine maintenance ranges. Excellent resistance to skin diseases thanks to a very thick mucus.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Perfect Reef Safe (ignores corals). Peaceful with fish of other species. Prohibition to insert other Blennies of the same species (males) who would fight lethally with their poisonous teeth.

Aquarium Reproduction: Possible but for specialists. They lay adhesive eggs in caves (the male stands guard). The larvae hatch in 7 days and need very pure rotifers.

Risks and Diseases: The human bite (Very rare but painful). Meiacanthus teeth can pierce human skin. The venom (similar to bee venom but without fatal histamine) causes a drop in blood pressure and severe burning. Never catch it with your hands or corner it during cleaning.