Blackline Fangblenny (Meiacanthus nigrolineatus) Care Guide
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus is a venomous fang blenny of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, feeding on zooplankton above the reef.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus Smith-Vaniz, 1969 is a combtooth blenny of the family Blenniidae, commonly called the blackline fangblenny. According to FishBase it reaches about 9.5 cm in total length and is restricted to the western Indian Ocean. It is a venomous fang blenny that swims above the reef substrate.
Taxonomy
- Family: Blenniidae
- Genus: Meiacanthus
- Scientific name: Meiacanthus nigrolineatus Smith-Vaniz, 1969
Habitat
FishBase records this species from the western Indian Ocean, specifically the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Adults swim in open water above the reef and feed on plankton, while juveniles shelter among the spines of sea urchins for protection from predators.
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 adults feed on zooplankton taken from the water column above the reef. In aquaria zooplankton-based and small meaty marine foods suit this feeding habit.
Compatibility
The species is peaceful and protected from most predators by 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 occasionally enters the marine aquarium trade.
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus Breeding Guide
Overview
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus is a fang blenny of the western Indian Ocean, growing to about 9.5 cm and described by Smith-Vaniz in 1969 (Wikipedia). It is venomous, and the harmless Red Sea mimic blenny Ecsenius gravieri closely copies its colours to gain protection (Reef Builders). It occasionally appears in the aquarium trade and, like other fang blennies, is produced by captive breeding.
Sexing
External sexing is not strongly marked. As in the genus Meiacanthus, the male takes charge of the demersal eggs, so the breeding male is most reliably identified once he is tending and guarding a clutch within a chosen shelter rather than by fixed external differences.
Conditioning
Conditioning relies on stable reef parameters and regular feeding of small meaty and prepared foods, mirroring the approach used for related fang blennies that wean readily onto formulated diets. A varied diet offered consistently keeps a pair or small group in spawning condition.
Breeding Setup
A breeding setup provides single-entrance tube or crevice shelters as spawning sites, following the pattern documented for the genus, in which males adopt defensible tube nests. Stable reef water, modest flow and several shelters let a male claim and guard a nest.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Meiacanthus blennies lay demersal eggs attached inside a shelter, where the male guards them through development. Species-specific clutch counts and exact triggers for M. nigrolineatus are not detailed in the cited sources and so are omitted, with stable conditions and good condition generally sustaining repeated clutches.
Egg & Fry Care
The male tends the attached eggs until hatching, after which the larvae are pelagic and reared on live prey before weaning, the same broad pathway that makes related Meiacanthus species commercially captive-bred. A dedicated rearing tank with cultured live foods is needed during the larval phase.
Common Challenges
The venomous fang calls for careful handling, though the fish is peaceful toward tankmates. As with other fang blennies, the larval phase governs yield, so reliable live-food culture and stable water quality through egg incubation and the pelagic larval period are the main requirements.