Guides Fish Care Rating: 2 Stars
Scientific Name: Exallias brevis (Kner, 1868)
Other Common Names: Short-Bodied Blenny, Spotted Blenny and Sailfin Blenny.
Hawaiian Names: Pa-0'o ka-u-i-la and 'O-'o-pu pa-o-'o
Identification: The blenny is a scaleless fish and a bottom dweller. The head is large and the mouth has comb-like teeth. The eyes are set up high on the head. Its pectoral fins are broad and rounded allowing the Blenny to prop itself up on its fins while sitting on the bottom.
The female of this species has a white, creamy or light tan colored body with dark brown-reddish or black spots over its entire body. The male has a white, creamy or light tan colored body with red and dark red-brown spots.
Characteristics: This fish is found in shallow waters just outside the reef from about 10 feet out to about 35 feet, occasionally deeper. It is a bottom dweller. It likes to perch on top of coral heads or stones, and at the sign of danger darts down into the coral for protection.
Distribution: The distribution of this fish extends from Hawai'i southward to central Polynesia, westward through Micronesia and Melanesia, through the East Indies, and into the Indian Ocean as far a Ceylon.
Diet : This fish can sometimes be difficult to get to eat in an aquarium. We have gotten them to eat Nori (dried kelp), dried shrimp bits, and flake food. Competition for food with other possible aggressive fish in your tank may hinder it from getting what it needs for nutrition. Because it is a bottom feeder, eating algae, small sand critters, and sometime live corals, when food is placed in the aquarium the top feeding fish may eat all the food before it has a chance to get to the bottom where the Blenny is. Try and get the other fish to eat their fill and place some food on the bottom where the Blenny can get to it. We have found that some of the Blennies that we have had would start coming to the surface to eat the food along with the other fish. Just try different ways of feeding until you find out what works best for your Blenny. They will eat, it just takes patience and vigilance on your part.
Guides' Notes
To us, the Sailfin Blenny has a cute, puppy like face with a lot of personality. This fish remains small reaching an average length of about three to four inches, is non-agressive, and makes a beautiful addition to a reef tank. It is not a fish we would recommend for beginners because of its picky eating habits
