FAQs on the Algae Eating
Blennies Identification
Related Articles: Algae
Eating Blennies, True or Combtooth
Blennies, Ecsenius Blennies, Tube/Pike/Flag Blennies/Chaenopsidae,
Related FAQs: Blenny Identification, Algae-eating Blennies, AEBs 2, & AEB
Behavior, AEB Compatibility,
AEB Selection, AEB Systems, AEB
Feeding, AEB Disease, AEB Reproduction, &
Combtooth Blennies 1,
Blenny
Identification, Blenny
Behavior, Blenny
Compatibility, Blenny
Selection, Blenny Systems,
Blenny Feeding, Blenny Disease, Blenny Reproduction, Ecsenius Blennies, Saber-Tooth Blennies, Blennioids & their Relatives,
Tube/Pike/Flag
Blennies/Chaenopsidae,
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Tribal Blenny (soon to be on Survivor TeeBee?)
ID 12/21/2009
Hello,
<Howdy>
I've just recently obtained a "Tribal Blenny".
I've found that it is a relatively new fish to the hobby and
I am having trouble finding its taxonomic nomenclature. It is an
algivorous blenny and one website says it is collected off of Sri
Lanka. I've found one online vendor that labeled it simply as
Atrosalarias sp..
<Mmm... have seen this (mis)labeled as Atrosalarias namieyi...
and even I believe misplaced in the genus Ecsenius:
http://wetwebmedia.com/blenidfaqs.htm>
The genus Atrosalarias, of course, contains A. fuscus, the black
Sailfin blenny. My tribal blenny does resemble some photographs
of black Sailfin blennies but it seems to be markedly different.
Most noticeably, it has bright blue markings on the face and body
that are always present (not just when exposed to light,
stressed, or photographed). (I will include several photographs
as attachments to this message. The photographs were taken
without a flash.)
If you could assist me in properly identifying what species the
tribal blenny is, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you for you time.
Merry Christmas,
Ian
<I don't know, don't see this fish on the Net in
reliable ref. or in my in-print works. My present best guess is
that it is a color variant (geographical form) of Atrosalarias
fuscus. Let's put on WWM and see what folks say. Bob
Fenner>
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Re: Tribal Blenny 12/22/09
Hello Bob,
<Welcome Ian>
Thank you for your prompt reply! I have been leaning towards it
being an Atrosalaris fuscus color variant as well. I will post it
on the forums as suggested.
<I have done so on WWM already>
Unfortunately, I've noticed that in addition to grazing on
turf algae, my tribal blenny has nipped at my red Montipora
capricornis. Of the many SPS corals in my tank, this is the only
one he has seemed at all 'interested' in (possibly
because it is nearest to the crevice that he frequents).
<May well be>
I've moved the coral and I haven't seen him go near it
for a while. I really hope this is not to be a common occurrence
as I really enjoy this fish.
Thank you again for your assistance!
Ian
<Certainly welcome. BobF>
Re: Tribal Blenny, ID
and now comp. f' 12/23/2009
Hello again Bob,
<Ian>
I thought I'd give you an update on the tribal blenny as per
its SPS nipping. Unfortunately it has really damaged one of my
Montipora capricornis. It also took a few bites at a Montipora
digitata. I have various varieties and species of Montipora in my
tank and also a few Acroproa, Anacropora, miscellaneous LPS,
miscellaneous soft corals, and a Tridacna crocea clam, among
other things; Of these specimens, the blenny only nipped at two
colonies (the M. capricornis and M. digitata). However, I
certainly did not give the blenny time to become interested in
any other
corals.
(After tearing apart my tank to catch it) The blenny is now in a
small holding tank. I will return it to the reputable vendor I
purchased it from.
I would like to set up a specialty tank (without SPS corals) for
this fish, but I do not have the means to do so at this time. The
coloration and demeanor of this fish are exceptional.
<A happy fish... perhaps if you had a huge system with lots of
Montiporas... it wouldn't be damaging too many>
Regardless of these happenings, I am still very interested to
discover the exact taxonomy of this blenny. Please keep me
informed. Thank you!
Merry Christmas,
Ian
<We accrue all. BobF>
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Name this fish? :) WWM Group- We bought a fish at the LFS
quite a while ago, we'd never seen the type before but decided to
give it a try. The owner didn't know the name, he thought it was a
blenny of some sort, and had put one in his tank successfully. We
called him the Blue Dragon Blenny. He disappeared recently and we want
to get another one. He had quite a personality. He was a grayish-blue
with antennas, he looks similar to the Black Sailfin Blenny picture on
flying fish express. He was about 4 inches long but we don't know
if he was an adult. He perched, often pushing our hawk out of his
favorite spots, he was also quite the algae eater. We know this is
probably a lost cause but thanks for anything at all. <Hopefully
this is one of the several hundred possible blennies that is commonly
collected. I'll guess it's an Atrosalarias fuscus (come in
different colors). Please see on our root web here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/trublennies.htm Is this the animal? Bob
Fenner> Thanks- Elaine
Name that Blenny! What are some of the common names
associated with Atrosalarias to help me locate them in my LFS? >>
Hmm, Highfin Blenny... Brown or Coral Blenny... many other common names
possible... Take a look at FishBase for pix, species... exp. A. fuscus.
Bob Fenner
Salarias ceramensis, range extension Dear
Sir, With reference to page http://www.wetwebmedia.com/../trublennies.htm
I photographed Salarias ceramensis at a depth of 10m between
"Pam's Point" and "Heron
Bommie" off Heron Island on 10th Oct 2003. Your web
page photograph in an aquarium and does not
mention the range in GBR. With my find, the range has been
extended. Below is a series of emails between me and The Australian
Museum, National Museum of Natural History in
Washington and Paul Humann. At the bottom are a couple
of the photographs. I would be happy for you to update your website
with these and the new information providing of course you
correctly credit the photography and identification. Kind Regards
Brian Mayes <Will post. Thank you for sending this along. Bob
Fenner> Hi Brian, I just saw your forwarded email from Vic
Springer further down in my inbox. I'm delighted that Vic
confirmed the identification as S. ceramensis. I will go ahead and
add your image to the current webpage and update the description of
the fish in the text. Yes, the fish is a range extension! Well
done. I will mention this on the webpage. I'll email you when
this is done. Thanks heaps, your image will really improve the
page. Cheers, Mark McGrouther Collection Manager Australian Museum
Fish Section Division of Vertebrate Zoology Dear Mr. Mayes, I
concur with Paul Humann that the specimen is Salarias ceramensis,
and possibly represents a southern range extension for the species,
if it came from the Heron Island area (I would have to do a lot of
checking in order to verify if it is a range extension). The photo
of the specimen illustrated at the web site you mentioned was taken
several thousand kilometers from where you photographed your
specimen. The color pattern of your specimen is more typical of the
species. Blennies often modify their color pattern to accord with
their "emotional" state, frequently becoming dark or pale
when stressed, which might account for the dark pattern of the
web-site specimen. Thank you for calling the specimen to my
attention. Sincerely, Victor G. Springer Curator, Senior Scientist
Smithsonian Institution PO Box 37012 National Museum of Natural
History - MRC-159 Washington, DC 20013-7012 USA email:
XXXX@nmnh.si.edu Dear Sirs, I contacted the author Paul
Humann about a blenny I photographed off Heron Island. He advises
it to be Salarias ceramensis. I found your names
credited with the identification of a photo of Salarias
ceramensis on the Australian Museum
website at page http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/sceramensis.htm
. The description and photo on the web site doesn't tie up with
my photos below. I wondered if you agreed with Paul Humann that my
photo is indeed Salarias ceramensis and if this is the case and
mine is a variant, then would you like a photograph Kind Regards
Brian Mayes Subject: Re: Fish Ident. Hi Brian, I've checked
with a couple of people and your mystery blenny is probably
Salarias ceramensis, sorry but there appears to be no common name.
Best "fishes, " Paul Dear
Paul, I wonder if I could ask you for some help. I have been trying
to identify a fish I photographed on a dive off Heron Island, GBR,
Australia. It seems like a type of Blenny but I can't seem to
find it in "Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral
Sea", by John E. Randall, Gerald R. Allen and Roger C. Steene.
Do you have an email address for any of the authors? Better still
can you identify it? Photographed at a depth of 10m between
"Pam's Point" and "Heron
Bommie" off Heron Island on 10th Oct 2003. Kind
Regards
Brian Mayes |
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Salarias ceramensis Bob, I have checked your site again but
didn't see anything posted. Is your site interested about
range extension for Salarias ceramensis? I can let you have a
photo taken at Heron Island in natural surroundings if you are. Kind
Regards Brian Mayes <No pic needed if you don't want to have it
posted, credited to you. Would however send your range extension
information to fishbase.org. Look up the species and click on the...
oh, wait, I see you already have.
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=7749&genusname=Salarias&speciesname=ceramensis
Bob Fenner>
Re: Check ID/Feeding of your "Sailfin" Blenny,
Before Purchasing - 03/12/07 <Hi Lance, Pufferpunk
here> I'm confused - I was under the impression that this was an
algae eater, hence the name (lawn mower), it eats algae of the glass
and rocks yet your suggestion is that it only eats "whole-animal
foods" so what is it that I did not research before my purchase?
Is this not an algae eater? <In reference to your previous question
about your "Sailfin" blenny: The "lawnmower" blenny
is not the same creature as a "Sailfin" blenny. 2
totally different species that eat 2 totally different
foods. We can't give you the correct info, without
proper ID. ~PP> <<Mmm, many Blennies... and some
other families fishes that are mis-called such have
"Sailfins"... elevated dorsals... THE Leopard Sailfin
Blenny, Exallias brevis is an obligate
corallivore... RMF> Lance
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