Thoughts on fanged blennies

[will?]

Hey guys, I'm running a 150L reef tank and I've got a small group of fanged blennies in the tank. They're only small, but stand up to the larger fish when feeding time comes around. I'm just wondering if anyone would share their experiences and if fanged blennies become an issue in an aquarium setting or if they actually bite other fish with their fangs.

Not in any desperate hurry, but it would be interesting to know.
Cheers

 

[tzabor10]

They sound great. Could you share some pictures?

 

[will?]

They sound great. Could you share some pictures?

My phone camera can't focus on them, so I've only got very blurry photos, but I can provide info if you want, or just some blurry photos, sorry

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Hey guys, I'm running a 150L reef tank and I've got a small group of fanged blennies in the tank. They're only small, but stand up to the larger fish when feeding time comes around. I'm just wondering if anyone would share their experiences and if fanged blennies become an issue in an aquarium setting or if they actually bite other fish with their fangs.

Not in any desperate hurry, but it would be interesting to know.
Cheers

The bite is a defensive thing to my understanding, and from what I've heard they only resort to it if they feel they have too (though that may vary depending on the individual species and specimen). I've heard they're usually very peaceful fish.

 

[UtahReefer]

Have had a striped fang for 1.5 years. Model citizen, never bothers anyone.

 

[blecki]

I had one that bit the hell out of a mimic tang in QT.

 

[will?]

I had one that bit the hell out of a mimic tang in QT.

Oh, wow. Was it agro towards other fish or was the tang just targeting him?

 

[will?]

The bite is a defensive thing to my understanding, and from what I've heard they only resort to it if they feel they have too (though that may vary depending on the individual species and specimen). I've heard they're usually very peaceful fish.

Yeah, I did feel as though this was the case, and they are very comfortable with people, my few come and lay on my arm when I clean the tank, they seem to be fine with the other fish, but it's good to get a second opinion, so that it's not just some one off, where I'll mess up my tank in the future.

 

[will?]

Have had a striped fang for 1.5 years. Model citizen, never bothers anyone.

Really comforting to hear, I was worried about their long term temperament, but that really helps

 

[UtahReefer]

Really comforting to hear, I was worried about their long term temperament, but that really helps

From what I hear they are generally pretty laid back. The biting is generally associated with defense if attacked. Mine is very passive.

 

[blecki]

Oh, wow. Was it agro towards other fish or was the tang just targeting him?

Well mimic tangs are jerks so it's easy to assume the tang was bullying it and it fought back. But I never actually saw them; all I saw was the evidence on the tang. The tang was very young so they were actually about the same length. The tang died and the only markings on it were the bites. I lost that entire QT 'set' to something I never identified over the course of a few weeks. So the tang might have been ill from something else, but I'm sure the bites didn't help.

 

[will?]

Sorry to hear, I have heard however, that they can lower blood pressure by something ridiculous, like 40% and act on opioid receptors, which is interesting, as apparently they can paralyze fish, but I've only heard of it being temporary. I assume I'll be alright bc all the fish are quite large, but thanks for the help nevertheless

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Sorry to hear, I have heard however, that they can lower blood pressure by something ridiculous, like 40% and act on opioid receptors, which is interesting, as apparently they can paralyze fish, but I've only heard of it being temporary. I assume I'll be alright bc all the fish are quite large, but thanks for the help nevertheless

To my knowledge, only Meiacanthus species are venomous, but yeah, they have an interesting venom that gets them spit out occasionally and seems to disorient/weaken their predators for awhile; some interesting notes on the effects on people:

Fang blenny venom (found in Meiacanthus spp.) may or may not be overly dangerous to an individual dependent on a number of different factors, but it is a worthwhile concern for anyone who decides to keep a fang blenny.

Without getting into the nitty-gritty of the toxins, fang blenny venom basically causes a large drop in blood pressure, mild (a relative term) neurotoxic effects such as dizziness, and inflammation - the inflammation forms a red circle around the bite immediately and grows in size up to about 10cm around, with a white, raised circle about 2cm around in the center. The inner circle lasts for about two hours, the outer circle for about four, and the bite area inflammation about twelve, but the tissue around the bite remains hardened for a few days. While the bite should be relatively painless (depending on species, it has been described as either being painless or being like a mild bee sting), the effects are cause for some concern, and - as with all venoms - there is always the risk of an allergic reaction to the venom which could be life threatening. So, while it may or not be particularly dangerous to one individual (dependent on allergies, blood pressure, medical history, etc.), it could be dangerous to another.

With regards to if they are reef safe or not, I’ve heard that all fang blennies (especially Escenius spp.) are a risk with coral, but, with Meiacanthus spp. in particular, there is a good chance they’re just eating the mucus or algae from off the coral, rather than eating the coral itself (so they would be reef safe). So, it may look like they’re eating the coral when they’re actually not.