That Fish Blog – Aquarium Advice and Information
Sam here with another nano fish profile. There are lots of little fish that are ideal for nano aquariums. The small sizes of these set-ups are the perfect way to really appreciate these tine fish that can get lost in larger tanks.
A very curious and interesting fish is the Atlantic Sailfin Blenny, Emblemaria pandionis. This small blenny reaches a size of just 2 inches and is great for nano tanks. This blenny is usually brown or black with white mottling along the dorsal ridge. Though not as brightly colored as some of it’s cousins, this species has a distinguishing feature; a very large dorsal “sail-fin”. It’s not uncommon for this dorsal fin to extend over an inch in height, impressive on a blenny this small. Emblemaria pandionis will engage in an interesting behavior when threatened or scared. It will raise it’s large dorsal fin to try and appear larger than it is! The blenny may also do this when approaching other blennies or seeking food.
This fish will happily accept frozen, flake and pellet foods, as long as the particles are small enough for the blenny to eat. It will also pick at the rock-work in the tank, eating small bits of algae. This is a community fish and will do well with many fish, as long as they are not predatory. Other small fish like Pseudochromis may not be ideal tankmates as they can be aggressive, and these little blennies do not have a means of defense except to take shelter in rockwork. The Sailfin Blenny may become territorial with other blennies so it’s best to have one per tank. The Sailfin Blenny is also reef safe, so it will do great in tanks with live corals. The blenny does have a habit of resting on corals, but no damage should come from this habit thanks to its tiny size. I highly recommend this tiny fish that has a lot of character.
