Forktail Blenny (Meiacanthus atrodorsalis) Care Guide
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis is a venomous fang blenny of the western Pacific, feeding on zooplankton and small benthic invertebrates.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis (Günther, 1877) is a combtooth blenny of the family Blenniidae, known commonly as the forktail or poison-fang blenny. According to FishBase it reaches about 11 cm in total length and occurs across the western Pacific. It is one of the venomous fang blennies, using enlarged lower-jaw canines for defence.
Taxonomy
- Family: Blenniidae
- Genus: Meiacanthus
- Scientific name: Meiacanthus atrodorsalis (Günther, 1877)
Habitat
FishBase records this species from the western Pacific, from Bali and the Philippines east to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, and south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia, including Micronesia. It inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of 0 to 30 m, occurring singly or in pairs along slopes and drop-offs.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L (about 26 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness range (record): 8-12 °dGH
- Lifespan: 3-8 years (KB record)
Diet
FishBase reports that it feeds on zooplankton and also on small benthic invertebrates. In aquaria a varied diet of zooplankton-based and small meaty marine foods suits this feeding strategy.
Compatibility
The species is peaceful and largely ignored by predators because of its venomous bite. Suitable companions include clownfish, tangs, cardinalfish and wrasses, while large aggressive predators such as lionfish and triggers should be avoided.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2009. The species is used in commercial fisheries and the aquarium trade.
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis Breeding Guide
Overview
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis is a fang blenny of the western Pacific coral reefs, growing to about 11 cm and described by Günther in 1877 (Wikipedia). It carries a venomous bite delivered through grooved canine fangs, which deters predators, and it is established in the aquarium trade as one of the fang blennies that is widely captive-bred.
Sexing
External sexing is not strongly marked, and breeders typically work with small harems rather than pre-sexed pairs. In a published study two harems of six fish were used, and the male takes full responsibility for egg care (search of ScienceDirect study summary), so a guarding male in a shelter is the practical sign of a functioning breeding unit.
Conditioning
Conditioning relies on stable reef parameters and regular feeding of small meaty and prepared foods. Captive-reared forktail blennies wean readily onto formulated diets, with one study weaning juveniles successfully between 16 and 30 days post-hatch (search of ScienceDirect study summary), so a varied diet keeps a breeding harem in good condition.
Breeding Setup
A breeding setup provides single-entrance tube shelters as spawning sites: adults showed a preference for 50 mm single-entrance PVC pipe for egg laying (search of ScienceDirect study summary). Stable reef water, modest flow and several such tubes per harem give males defensible nest sites.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
In the published account, harems began spawning about three months after acquisition, with egg clutches found regularly thereafter, and the male took full responsibility for egg care (search of ScienceDirect study summary). Eggs are demersal and attached inside the tube; stable conditions and good condition sustain repeated clutches rather than a single trigger event.
Egg & Fry Care
The male tends the attached eggs in the tube until hatching: larvae of about 3.11 mm standard length hatched roughly 181 hours after fertilisation at 28 °C, with larval survival ranging from about 4.8 to 47 percent (search of ScienceDirect study summary). The pelagic larvae are reared on live prey before weaning, which makes this species genuinely raisable in captivity.
Common Challenges
The venomous fang means careful handling, though the fish is peaceful toward tankmates. Larval survival is variable, so consistent live-food culture and water quality during the roughly week-long egg phase and the pelagic larval period are the main determinants of yield.