Advice needed on barnacle blennies

[mta_morrow]

Hello,

New tank arrives Jan 4, RSR 525xl. Part of my stocking plan which I will post later, was going to be 2-4 barnacle blennies.

It will be a very peaceful community tank full of blennies, gobies, wrasse, etc.

MAYBE 1 tang. Maybe!

Anyway I found this barnacle cluster today at a local beach shop.

I’m holding it right over a 5 gallon bucket opening for size reference

I think it’s absolutely awesome and I wouldn’t mind doing 8-10 barnacle blennies.

Is that doable? Should they all get along?

What type of light and flow do they prefer? I have read they stay in their hole (hopefully in a barnacle!) and fly in and out for food.

I would love to mount this on the front of my overflow which is dead center with the holes generally facing forward.

I think that would be a very unique and enjoyable view.

Advice and opinions are greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance

 

[Big G]

Great idea. I like it a lot. 8-10 of those little guys would be hilarious.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Most of the barnacle blenny species available won't use barnacles that big.

 

[mta_morrow]

Most of the barnacle blenny species available won't use barnacles that big.

Thanks for being honest and raining on my parade!

Seriously thanks. Are there any other fish that could be kept in groups that may make this their home?

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Mine use barnacles that size, at least the size of the smaller holes in the cluster.

I only have 4, 8 or 10 wouldbe great and i think would get along well.

They are great fish

 

[eatbreakfast]

Anytime I've tried to use those barnacle clusters the blennies all used holes in the rocks instead, they want to be positioned like a missile in a silo, with no room for anything else to get in.

Other blennies, such as midas and starry blennies would use those, but they aren't social.

 

[mta_morrow]

Anytime I've tried to use those barnacle clusters the blennies all used holes in the rocks instead, they want to be positioned like a missile in a silo, with no room for anything else to get in.

Other blennies, such as midas and starry blennies would use those, but they aren't social.

Ok. Thanks eatbreakfast. I have seen trios of different blennies for sale on DD.

Any recommendations on a trio? I also want a tailspot blenny so I would like for any trio to ignore the tailspot.

 

[eatbreakfast]

The blenny trios offered on DD are fang blennies. They will ignore the tailspot, but likely won't utilize the barnacle cluster.

 

[mta_morrow]

The blenny trios offered on DD are fang blennies. They will ignore the tailspot, but likely won't utilize the barnacle cluster.

Ok. Thanks for sharing your expertise. I guess I will still mount the cluster to cover the overflow a bit as I think it’s still pretty cool.

 

[Bunnee911]

My Panemic barnacle blenny is too small for those. He has a hole in a rock.

 

[biomek]

I just added two different clusters in my tank. My twin spot loves them. My midas hasn't yet gotten brave enough to check them out so he still sticks to the rocks. If you do go with 8-10 blennies, make sure to update us. They are such oddballs i can only imagine how fun it would be having that many.

 

[mta_morrow]

I just added two different clusters in my tank. My twin spot loves them. My midas hasn't yet gotten brave enough to check them out so he still sticks to the rocks. If you do go with 8-10 blennies, make sure to update us. They are such oddballs i can only imagine how fun it would be having that many.

I’m still going to do a group of blennies. I hope to be setup and stocking the tank within 60 days.

I will be posting my stock list to get input and advice as I don’t think it is a normal kinda list!