Caribbean sailfin blenny care

[Pbh-reef]

My LFS got these in and I’m wondering if one could do well in my 10 gallon mixed reef. Are they basically like barnacle blennies? I’m not finding much about them online

 

[Old Fritz]

a 10 will be fairly small for a sailfin blenny, for a couple reasons. 1) size wise it's a little cramped 2) their diet is composed almost entirely of algae that grows in your tank, however you can supplement it with something like spirulina. These guys are peaceful and get along with most other fish just not of the same species. And I have heard they nip at corals

 

[Pbh-reef]

Thanks! Have you kept these fish? Just want to be clear I’m talking about
Emblemaria pandionis and not the algae blenny Salarius fasciatus. The Caribbean sailfin grows to 2” and from
What little I found seems to be a planktivore but I’ve found very little about them.

Here’s a link to the fish I mean https://www.google.com/amp/s/bluegrassaquatics.com/amp/caribbean-sailfin-blenny-medium.html

 

[Old Fritz]

So that makes a big difference lol. I see what you mean about there being limited information. Out of the 4 saltwater fish books I have only one mentions it and its fairly brief. Essentially it is an omnivore so i imagine it will take to pellets, and the recommend tank size is 15 gallons. You should also have a tight lid as these guys are jumpers. I do have some conflicting info as i did some research online and found this "The sailfin blenny is a carnivore, feeding on small invertebrates and plankton. These items include copepods, amphipods, isopods, decapods, stomatopods, mysids, and crabs."

Sorry I couldnt help more, there is some conflicting info on diet so I'd ask your lfs what they feed it just to be safe

 

[Pbh-reef]

thanks! yes I figured that may have been what happened. If I do get one I'll be sure to post here so people can learn more about them. eat breakfast said they were essentially like barnacle blennies when I asked this question in the beginner fish question thread

 

[Old Fritz]

I'll be interested in updates. From what I've read they have amazing personalities

 

[Pbh-reef]

I also meant to say thank you for checking all those books I really appreciate it!

 

[mort]

Eatbreakfast is right as usual. I've kept a few of these and they are very similar to barnacle blennies. They need somewhere they can hide and are happy in a hole in the rockwork or empty barnacles if you can find them.
Males have the large sailfin and females are interesting if less impressive.
They can eat largish food items. I saw one at the wholesaler with a cleaner goby sticking out of its mouth and mine have taken good size krill, mysis or anything meaty.
They will defend their territory but aren't aggressive.

Cool little fish all in all.

 

[Old Fritz]

Just found another one of my books. Has a page dedicated to them. Hooe it helps if you just need a little more info on them

 

[CWMorrow]

I have six in a twenty gallon long, and one in a community 90. The above description is accurate. I feed mostly frozen adult brine shrimp, occasionally live adult brine shrimp. They particularly like to sit in barnacles.

 

[CWMorrow]

I have six in a twenty gallon long, and one in a community 90. The above description is accurate. I feed mostly frozen adult brine shrimp, occasionally live adult brine shrimp. They particularly like to sit in barnacles.

 

[AC1211]

Just found another one of my books. Has a page dedicated to them. Hooe it helps if you just need a little more info on them

I have that book