FAQs on the Algae Eating Blennies Identification

FAQs on the Algae Eating Blennies Identification

Tribal Blenny (soon to be on Survivor TeeBee?) ID 12/21/2009
Hello,
<Howdy>
I've just recently obtained a "Tribal Blenny". I've found that it is a relatively new fish to the hobby and I am having trouble finding its taxonomic nomenclature. It is an algivorous blenny and one website says it is collected off of Sri Lanka. I've found one online vendor that labeled it simply as Atrosalarias sp..
<Mmm... have seen this (mis)labeled as Atrosalarias namieyi... and even I believe misplaced in the genus Ecsenius:
http://wetwebmedia.com/blenidfaqs.htm>
The genus Atrosalarias, of course, contains A. fuscus, the black Sailfin blenny. My tribal blenny does resemble some photographs of black Sailfin blennies but it seems to be markedly different. Most noticeably, it has bright blue markings on the face and body that are always present (not just when exposed to light, stressed, or photographed). (I will include several photographs as attachments to this message. The photographs were taken without a flash.)
If you could assist me in properly identifying what species the tribal blenny is, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you for you time.
Merry Christmas,
Ian
<I don't know, don't see this fish on the Net in reliable ref. or in my in-print works. My present best guess is that it is a color variant (geographical form) of Atrosalarias fuscus. Let's put on WWM and see what folks say. Bob Fenner>

Re: Tribal Blenny 12/22/09
Hello Bob,
<Welcome Ian>
Thank you for your prompt reply! I have been leaning towards it being an Atrosalaris fuscus color variant as well. I will post it on the forums as suggested.
<I have done so on WWM already>
Unfortunately, I've noticed that in addition to grazing on turf algae, my tribal blenny has nipped at my red Montipora capricornis. Of the many SPS corals in my tank, this is the only one he has seemed at all 'interested' in (possibly because it is nearest to the crevice that he frequents).
<May well be>
I've moved the coral and I haven't seen him go near it for a while. I really hope this is not to be a common occurrence as I really enjoy this fish.
Thank you again for your assistance!
Ian
<Certainly welcome. BobF>

Re: Tribal Blenny, ID and now comp. f' 12/23/2009
Hello again Bob,
<Ian>
I thought I'd give you an update on the tribal blenny as per its SPS nipping. Unfortunately it has really damaged one of my Montipora capricornis. It also took a few bites at a Montipora digitata. I have various varieties and species of Montipora in my tank and also a few Acroproa, Anacropora, miscellaneous LPS, miscellaneous soft corals, and a Tridacna crocea clam, among other things; Of these specimens, the blenny only nipped at two colonies (the M. capricornis and M. digitata). However, I certainly did not give the blenny time to become interested in any other
corals.
(After tearing apart my tank to catch it) The blenny is now in a small holding tank. I will return it to the reputable vendor I purchased it from.
I would like to set up a specialty tank (without SPS corals) for this fish, but I do not have the means to do so at this time. The coloration and demeanor of this fish are exceptional.
<A happy fish... perhaps if you had a huge system with lots of Montiporas... it wouldn't be damaging too many>
Regardless of these happenings, I am still very interested to discover the exact taxonomy of this blenny. Please keep me informed. Thank you!
Merry Christmas,
Ian
<We accrue all. BobF>

Name this fish? :) WWM Group- We bought a fish at the LFS quite a while ago, we'd never seen the type before but decided to give it a try. The owner didn't know the name, he thought it was a blenny of some sort, and had put one in his tank successfully. We called him the Blue Dragon Blenny. He disappeared recently and we want to get another one. He had quite a personality. He was a grayish-blue with antennas, he looks similar to the Black Sailfin Blenny picture on flying fish express. He was about 4 inches long but we don't know if he was an adult. He perched, often pushing our hawk out of his favorite spots, he was also quite the algae eater. We know this is probably a lost cause but thanks for anything at all. <Hopefully this is one of the several hundred possible blennies that is commonly collected. I'll guess it's an Atrosalarias fuscus (come in different colors). Please see on our root web here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/trublennies.htm Is this the animal? Bob Fenner> Thanks- Elaine

Name that Blenny! What are some of the common names associated with Atrosalarias to help me locate them in my LFS? >> Hmm, Highfin Blenny... Brown or Coral Blenny... many other common names possible... Take a look at FishBase for pix, species... exp. A. fuscus. Bob Fenner

Salarias ceramensis, range extension Dear Sir, With reference to page http://www.wetwebmedia.com/../trublennies.htm I photographed Salarias ceramensis at a depth of 10m between "Pam's Point" and "Heron Bommie" off Heron Island on 10th Oct 2003. Your web page photograph in an aquarium and does not mention the range in GBR. With my find, the range has been extended. Below is a series of emails between me and The Australian Museum, National Museum of Natural History in Washington and Paul Humann. At the bottom are a couple of the photographs. I would be happy for you to update your website with these and the new information providing of course you correctly credit the photography and identification. Kind Regards Brian Mayes <Will post. Thank you for sending this along. Bob Fenner> Hi Brian, I just saw your forwarded email from Vic Springer further down in my inbox. I'm delighted that Vic confirmed the identification as S. ceramensis. I will go ahead and add your image to the current webpage and update the description of the fish in the text. Yes, the fish is a range extension! Well done. I will mention this on the webpage. I'll email you when this is done. Thanks heaps, your image will really improve the page. Cheers, Mark McGrouther Collection Manager Australian Museum Fish Section Division of Vertebrate Zoology Dear Mr. Mayes, I concur with Paul Humann that the specimen is Salarias ceramensis, and possibly represents a southern range extension for the species, if it came from the Heron Island area (I would have to do a lot of checking in order to verify if it is a range extension). The photo of the specimen illustrated at the web site you mentioned was taken several thousand kilometers from where you photographed your specimen. The color pattern of your specimen is more typical of the species. Blennies often modify their color pattern to accord with their "emotional" state, frequently becoming dark or pale when stressed, which might account for the dark pattern of the web-site specimen. Thank you for calling the specimen to my attention. Sincerely, Victor G. Springer Curator, Senior Scientist Smithsonian Institution PO Box 37012 National Museum of Natural History - MRC-159 Washington, DC 20013-7012 USA email: [email protected] Dear Sirs, I contacted the author Paul Humann about a blenny I photographed off Heron Island. He advises it to be Salarias ceramensis. I found your names credited with the identification of a photo of Salarias ceramensis on the Australian Museum website at page http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/sceramensis.htm . The description and photo on the web site doesn't tie up with my photos below. I wondered if you agreed with Paul Humann that my photo is indeed Salarias ceramensis and if this is the case and mine is a variant, then would you like a photograph Kind Regards Brian Mayes Subject: Re: Fish Ident. Hi Brian, I've checked with a couple of people and your mystery blenny is probably Salarias ceramensis, sorry but there appears to be no common name. Best "fishes, " Paul Dear Paul, I wonder if I could ask you for some help. I have been trying to identify a fish I photographed on a dive off Heron Island, GBR, Australia. It seems like a type of Blenny but I can't seem to find it in "Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea", by John E. Randall, Gerald R. Allen and Roger C. Steene. Do you have an email address for any of the authors? Better still can you identify it? Photographed at a depth of 10m between "Pam's Point" and "Heron Bommie" off Heron Island on 10th Oct 2003. Kind Regards
Brian Mayes

Salarias ceramensis Bob, I have checked your site again but didn't see anything posted. Is your site interested about range extension for Salarias ceramensis? I can let you have a photo taken at Heron Island in natural surroundings if you are. Kind Regards Brian Mayes <No pic needed if you don't want to have it posted, credited to you. Would however send your range extension information to fishbase.org. Look up the species and click on the... oh, wait, I see you already have. http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=7749&genusname=Salarias&speciesname=ceramensis Bob Fenner>

Re: Check ID/Feeding of your "Sailfin" Blenny, Before Purchasing - 03/12/07 <Hi Lance, Pufferpunk here> I'm confused - I was under the impression that this was an algae eater, hence the name (lawn mower), it eats algae of the glass and rocks yet your suggestion is that it only eats "whole-animal foods" so what is it that I did not research before my purchase? Is this not an algae eater? <In reference to your previous question about your "Sailfin" blenny: The "lawnmower" blenny is not the same creature as a "Sailfin" blenny. 2 totally different species that eat 2 totally different foods. We can't give you the correct info, without proper ID. ~PP> <<Mmm, many Blennies... and some other families fishes that are mis-called such have "Sailfins"... elevated dorsals... THE Leopard Sailfin Blenny, Exallias brevis is an obligate corallivore... RMF> Lance

Please visit our Sponsors