Flametail Blenny Fish - Profile | Care | Reef Safe

The Yellowtail Black Blenny, also referred to as the Flametail Blenny, is putting in look with its daring blocks of black and yellow coloration. At first look, this good-looking blenny could be simply misidentified as the favored and equally colored Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor).

Upon nearer inspection, the observant hobbyist will discover evident variations in look and habits.

Flametail Blenny profile

Maximum Length: 4″
Care Level: Easy
Family: Blenniidae
Reef Compatibility: Yes
Minimum Aquarium Size: 30 gal.
Range: Indo Pacific
Diet: Herbivore
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Flametail Blenny description

The Flametail Blenny, Enchelyurus flavipes , also referred to as the Golden Tailed Black Blenny, Yellowtail Blenny, and the Yellow Tail Black Blenny.

This Blenny has an attribute yellow dorsal fin coupled with the jet black body. It is likely one of the most beautiful species of blenny obtainable within the aquarium commerce.

The Flametail Blenny is peaceable and needs to be housed with different peaceable tank mates. Nonetheless, it could behave aggressively in the direction of firefish gobies and different smaller blennies.

They may develop as much as 4 inches, and needs to be saved in a tank a minimum of 30 gallons if housing one, and a minimum of 50 gallons for 2.

The tank also needs to have with loads of reside rock to graze for algae between meals, and to perch upon and to offer hiding locations, the tank also needs to have a tightly secured lid to stop escape by leaping.

The Flametail Blenny needs to be fed an herbivore food regimen, consisting of macroalgae, corresponding to Macro Feast, and dry seaweed 1-2 instances per week.

The easiest way to get this Blenny to eat is to simulate precise seaweed development, by inserting the seaweed within the tank and attaching it by Rubberband to reside rock.

Total, this is a wonderful selection for newbie aquarists as it’s peaceable, productive, lovely, and simple to look after. The Flametail Blenny will thrive in temperatures starting from 75-80°F and a pH of 8.1-8.4.

The Flametail Blenny, Enchelyurus flavipes, encompasses an attribute yellow dorsal fin coupled with the jet black physique.

They’re hardy and could be housed with different peaceable fish in a reef tank setting, however could develop into territorial in the direction of different blennies, gobies, or dartfish in smaller tanks.

This blenny is named a rock skipper and has unbelievable leaping talents, so having a tightly secured lid is usually recommended.

Flametail Blenny diet ought to embrace a wide range of mysis shrimp and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp in addition to spirulina, marine algae, seaweed, and algae-based mostly meal 2-Three instances every day.

The Yellowtail Black Blenny is extra elegant in look with “softer” options with a rounded head as opposed to the blunted, blockier formed head of the Bicolor Blenny.

Additionally, the Yellowtail Black Blenny lacks the antennae-like cirri discovered between the upper set eyes of the Bicolor Blenny.

Nonetheless, probably the most distinct distinction between these two fish is the form of the caudal (tail) fin.

The Yellowtail Black Blenny has a rounded caudal fin whereas the Bicolor Blenny sports activities a more angular, truncate fin.

The Yellowtail Black Blenny requires a 30-gallon or bigger aquarium with ample rockwork to thrive. It would occupy most of its time amid crevices and rocks on the underside of its atmosphere, sometimes darting onto greater rockwork for perching and foraging.

The Yellowtail Black reveals nice character and is generally peaceable in the direction of different tank members, however, have been recognized to select at different blennies, smaller gobies, dartfish, and different related formed fish.

The Yellowtail Black Blenny needs to be fed a properly steadiness food regimen of carnivorous meals together with a choice of meals designed for herbivores.

Habits: The Flametail Blenny is an attention-grabbing backside dweller that may spend a lot of its time perched on the sand or decrease rocks.

It’s usually a peaceable fish, nevertheless, it could behave aggressively in the direction of firefish, gobies, and different smaller blennies.

Though it could sometimes nip at choose LPS and SPS corals, the Flametail Blenny hardly ever causes any actual harm to corals or invertebrates.

Offering loads of reside rock with microalgae for it to graze on ought to hold it pre-occupied. This handy herbivore will assist to maintain your aquarium trying its finest.

Feeding

The Flametail Blenny will graze over the reside rock within the aquarium consuming algae.

You may complement its food regimen with reside macroalgae, corresponding to Macro Feast, and dry seaweed 1-2 instances per week.

Strive to utilize a rubber band to connect the algae to a small rock or PVC pipe and place it within the sand mattress.

Trace

Ruber-banding algae to a little bit of tonga department rock appear to be probably the purest and can keep in place the very best.

Soaking all fish meals (even algae) with nutritional vitamins will assist hold your fish more healthy and make them much less vulnerable to illness.

We advocate soaking meals in garlic properly when including new fish and every time you discover ich or different illness within the aquarium. Garlic will assist repel exterior parasites and can enhance fish’s immunity.

Feeding Suggestions

Keep in mind to feed slowly. Leftover meals will trigger nitrates and phosphates to rise.

If you happen to see meals falling to the sand mattress and into the rocks, you need to feed slower and provides the fish an opportunity to eat earlier than including a bit of extra.

Utilizing a turkey baster permits you to goal meals to totally different fish.

For instance, you may feed the aggressive fish on one facet of the tank after which squirt a bit of bit on the opposite facet for the much less aggressive fish.

In this manner, all of the fish get an opportunity to eat sufficiently.

Aquarium Water Chemistry for Flametail Blenny

Sustaining Ammonia at zero ppm, Nitrites at zero ppm, and Nitrates under 10ppm will assist to maintain your Flametail Blenny joyfully and wholesome. We advocate doing a water change quickly after Nitrates rise above 10 ppm.

Sustaining correct calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh – run it 7-Eight in case you are carbon dosing), and magnesium ranges (1260-1350 ppm) will assist to maintain pH secure within the 8.1-8.4 vary.

We advocate a selected gravity of 1.024-1.026 with 1.025 being supreme for fish. The temperature ought to stay secure as properly and may keep inside a 2 diploma vary.

Care Stage – Probably the most high-maintenance fish I’ve ever recognized, however, it’s hardy and calls for nothing however meals and love.

Not frequent to see in tanks, it’s virtually sure that each one flame-tails are live-caught from Indo-Pacific reefs.

Nonetheless, they don’t seem to be listed as a protected species beneath CITIES ( Conference on the Worldwide Commerce in Endangered Species).

This crowd favorite is nearly human and has plenty of character within the tank. Our single best concern for blennies is compatibility with different fish.

The flame-tail blenny is the most positively reef-safe fish that requires minimal swimming room.

The most important problemo is that it’s territorial and can assault different fish with related physique form.

Aggression is most certainly to happen with different blennies however may additionally happen with some gobies and dotty backs. we now have a flame-tail matched with a watchman goby so as to add pleasure.

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