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Blennies
Blennies look much like gobies, though gobies generally have more of a pointed
or sloped head, and are from a different family classification, scientifically
speaking. A good page listing the differences between blennies and gobies
is maintained by the British Marine Life Study Society. Blennies all have
a long dorsal fin and pelvic fins (if any) that are near the throat, with
one spine and two to four rays.
The two most prominent families of blennies are the clinids (family Clinidae),
or scaled blennies, and the blenniids, or combtooth blennies (family Blenniidae).
Clinids are carnivorous, usually have a pointed nose, and have a long,
multiple-spined dorsal fin. They usually have fringed tentacles, and some
may grow to about 12 inches. The blenniids are small, blunt-nosed, scaleless
blennies of warm and temperate seas. They have a single dorsal fin that is
sometimes notched, and small teeth.
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| The
Breeding Habits |
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The breeding habits of blennies and gobies are very similar, though this
may simply be a result of the demands of their environment, namely shallow
water and the sea shore. In common with many other shallow-water fish, they
show a remarkable degree of parental care. Not for them the "leave and hope"
strategy of deep-water fish, where vast numbers of eggs are cast to the current
so that a few lucky ones survive. The hostile waters of the coastal fringe
make a caring approach more successful. After pairing, a male goby will act
as a guardian to the female while she lays her eggs. The clump of eggs, each
one oval, or pear-shaped with a short stalk, is usually fastened to a solid
surface as they are laid. Having laid her clutch of about a 100 eggs, the
female goby departs, leaving the male to guard and aerate the eggs for up
to two weeks. Blennies have very similar breeding habits, with males again
carrying out the egg guarding duties which may last for over a month.
The seven spine gobies are great inhabitants for a reef-style aquarium.
Their diminutive size, coupled with their willingness to breed in captivity
make them an excellent choice for a home fish breeder. While determining
sexes of these fish is somewhat difficult, you can overcome this issue by
providing multiple fish. Established male gobies will find an appropriate
nesting site, and breed with a willing female. Males will guard the egg masses
and provide a minimal amount of parental care, keeping the male in the presence
of the eggs will increase the likelihood of hatching success. Once hatched,
goby fry can be established on phytoplankton-enriched rotifers followed by
a weaning onto Artemia. While the goby fry are small, they are robust feeders
and grow quickly. These above reasons make neon gobies an excellent candidate
for a first endeavor into home fish breeding.
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| Dragonettes |
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These are some great fish, but not for the beginner and definitely not
for a new tank. Here are some good links with more information on these gorgeous
fish:
Blennies, Dragonettes
& Gobies
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| ZEBRA
BLENNY |
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English name: zebra blenny, rock skipper
Among the common and distinctive, full-time residents of Hawaiian tidepools
are the blennies or rock skippers. Blennies are small, agile fish whose Hawaiian
and English common names refer to their ability to jump from one tidepool
to another. If startled, they can leap from pool to pool at low tide without
touching the dry rocks in between. The timing and accuracy of their leaps
suggests a familiarity with their surroundings.
The fish family Blennidae, to which the rock skipper belongs contains
about 276 different species, making it one of the largest of fish families.
Fourteen species are known in Hawaii. The tidepool or zebra blenny, found
only in the Hawaiian Islands, is probably the most familiar. This species
reaches 6 inches (15 cm) in length, and body color varies from bluish-black
to yellowish brown with dark vertical bars on the sides of the body.
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| Family:
Blenniidae |
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The Blennies are a large family of small fish that live on the sea bottom.
They are found in coastal waters throughout the world, with a greater variety
of species in tropical and warmer seas than around the British Isles. Many
species can be found under rocks as the tide recedes.
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The
Blue Stripe Fang Blenny |
Story
1
The Blue Stripe Fang Blenny seems to have a perpetual smile across its'
face. This little fish hides in his tube until a likely fish passes by. He
then jumps out, bites a small piece off the hide of the unfortunate by passer
and then pops tail first back into the hole.
The common
name Blenny
Link
Story
2
The common name blenny is used for several families including Blenniidae,
Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), Dactyloscopidae, Labrisomidae and Clinidae.
The Blenniidae are usually considered the "true" blennies but they share
many characteristics with the other families.
Scooter
Blennies
Neosynchiropus ocellatus
These very popular fish are actually not blennies. They are Dragonets.
Some other popular (and also misnamed) members of this family are the Mandarin
and Psychedelic gobies.
Pictures
of Blennies
Gobies, Blennies, Dartfish, Triplefins, Dottybacks, Dragonets
www.animaltrek.com/fish/goby.html
Peaceable
and solitary species
A hardy, peaceable fish, blennies tend to hover near the bottom of their
tanks. They lack the brillain colors of other marine fishes, but adapt well
to aquarium life and coexist well with most other species. They have few
specific needs, but thrive if given a varied diet including live as well
as frozen foods. Some may become territorial, especially with regards to
other blennies, but for the most part they are a peaceable and solitary
species.
The Sailfin/Algae Blenny
The Sailfin/Algae Blenny is also referred to as Jewelled Rockskipper or
the Lawnmower, Jeweled Blenny, or Rock Blenny. Its body is a mottled tan
with blue dots and it shows tons of personality.
A well-established 30 gallon or larger aquarium with multiple swimming
levels and plenty of rock is a suitable environment. It is not usually aggressive
unless the tank mates appear to have a similar shape as it does. It is best
to house singly unless kept in a larger tank and the two are a mated pair.
It tends to perch and hop from rock to rock looking for microalgae to graze
on. It is known to nip at small-polyped stony coral and clam mantles.
The Sailfin/Algae Blenny does best in well-established aquariums with
large amounts of natural algae to feed on. The diet can be supplemented with
vegetable matter, Spirulina, and herbivore preparations.
Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 2"; Medium: 2-1/2" to 3"; Large:
3" to 5"
Family
Gobiidae (GOBY)
goby, common name for a member of the family Gobiidae, small marine fishes
familiar in shallow waters, especially along southern shores. The most popular
of many aquarium species is the bumblebee goby, native to S Asia. Gobies
are classified in the phylum Chordata, class Osteichthyes, order Perciformes,
family Gobiidae.
Family: Gobiidae, members of Microdesmideae, Malacanthidae and Callionymidae
have also been added to this category
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The Moorish Idle
The Blue Stripe Fang Blenny seems to have a perpetual smile.
Short Bodied Blenny
The distribution of this fish extends from Hawai'i southward to central
Polynesia, westward through Micronesia and Melanesia, through the East Indies,
and into the Indian Ocean as far a Ceylon.
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The
Gobies
This picture gallery offers a look at various gobies, tilefish,
and mandarins
Cleaner Goby
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The Yellow Watchman
Goby:
The Yellow Watchman Goby is also known as the Yellow Shrimp Goby. The
head and body are yellow-orange with bright blue spots on the head and fins.
The Yellow Watchman Goby wears an amusing perpetual frown, and likes to peek
out from behind rocks. They have been known to form symbiotic relationships
with pistol shrimp.The aquariums should have plenty of loose coral rubble,
ample swimming room, and a sand bottom for burrowing. It rarely becomes
aggressive towards other fish, but it is territorial, and will fight with
its own kind unless they are a mated pair. The Yellow Watchman Goby diet
should consist of meaty preparations either fresh or frozen.
The Bumble Bee Goby (Brackish water)
Breeding the Bumble Bee Goby
The Bumblebee goby, _Brachygobius xanthozonus_, is one of the old favorites
in the aquarium hobby. In appearnace, it truly lives up to its common name
of bumblebee; it has wide black and orange vertical bars and has a somewhat
short dumpy body. The bumblebee presents a rather pugnacious appearance.
It also has a face that resembles an English bulldog more than a small, mild
mannered aquarium fish. Another distinguishing feature is the suction cup
that enables these fish to hold onto any surface. This suction cup is formed
by the placement of their ventral fins.
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Member, Dale
Barger
