Eyelash Blenny? (Looking for an ID)

[DensityMan]

Just the usual quest to ID a mislabled fish after purchase. It definately fit into the tanks design (i.e. - it was tiny and looked neat).

Was labeled as a "Dragon Goby" at the LFS, even though the salesman and I both knew that is the one thing it definately wasn't (unless juvenile dragon gobies have eyelashes/horns, orange eyes and snake backwards into holes or snail shells... *smirk*

The obligatory pics:

Side of head and some of the dorsal area
http://www.densityman.com/images/reef_tank_new/radar_the_undragon_ungoby.jpg

Better color, straight shot of face
http://www.densityman.com/images/reef_tank_new/radar_upclose.jpg

Better shot of a semi-'erect' dorsal fin
http://www.densityman.com/images/reef_tank_new/radar_with_dorsal.jpg

Not real worried about diet right off because it is eating cyclop-eeze like a pig. It is very active and fun to watch. Though he does stick very close to his hide-out he is out and visible (unlike my incredibly 'dumb' sailfin blenny who hides at the bottom of the pod-pile and comes out during feedings in hopes of a piece making it all the way through the maze of rubble...)

Not a shot of the 'new-guy'... this is the sailfin hiding at the bottom of the pod-pile staring at the fish eating above him... Not worried about this guy either... he isn't sunken bellied so he must be eating something...
http://www.densityman.com/images/reef_tank_new/wyatt_is_dumb.jpg

Enjoy,

[joetbs]

It's a Barnacle blenny(Acanthemblemaria sp). Nice find. They live in barnacles, so don't expect him to leave his shell too often.

joe

[DensityMan]

He does bare a resemblance to the 'Galapagos' barnacle blenny (Click here to see more from the 'The 3-D IMAX film Galapagos' web-page (http://www.mnh.si.edu/expeditions/galapagos/barnacle-blenny.htm)), but not that much of a visual match-up with the specimen labeled 'barnacle blenny' at LiveAquaria (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1414).

Funny thing is I've been looking for a 'barnacle blenny' for some time; I've just been using the picture from LiveAquaria (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1414) as my visual referrence... hehe.

Thanks for the reply and a pointer in the right direction. :D

[DensityMan]

These guys have to be 'rare' or hard to catch; otherwise they would be incredibly popular, I think.

http://www.densityman.com/images/reef_tank_new/emperator_blenny.jpg

He is constantly hanging out of his hidey-hole (he finally graduated from his shell-apartment to the rockwork when a now-removed hermit knocked his shell from the rockwork to the sand) except at feeding time. When food hits the water he becomes a blur of speed. Snapping up food and then slamming himself back into his home.

Wish I were fast enough to capture that action... :lol:

[gregr]

i've heard they were called Emperator Blennies. i had for about 6 months and it was my favorite fish. but he decided to live in a hole-in-the-rock that was right next to my big brain coral and one day he just disappeared :( he was so healthy and such a good eater i figured he got eaten by the brain.
greg

[DensityMan]

Hey again GregR,

I've been calling him an Emperator Blenny since you told me that in the photo thread. It's just easier than saying "strange little blenny without a scientific name."

Yesterday (after about two weeks in the tank) he gave up his home for some reason. His new bravery is slightly annoying, I don't know where he is at all times now. ;)

[gregr]

it seems that they do that occasionally. the one i had moved three times in the 6 months [roughly] that i had him, and the other person who has one that i know says his moves around once in a while too. so i think it's not to worry.
greg

[DensityMan]

My sailfin blenny got me used to the behavior... now I get excited just to catch a glimpse of the sailfin. ;)

Each of his other moves he at least had the decency to stay in the front-view. I think he has moved to the back of the tank for a while.

[nts9]

Acanthemblemaria Crockeri from the Sea of Cortez.
The females are barred and the males are a more evenly tan.

regards,
Noel

[gregr]

thanks Noel!
do you have a book that has that fish in it? if so i'd be interested in buying a copy.
greg

[technoshaman]

Greg - I havent seen it in a while in any stores but there is a book on Sea of Cortez fishes you can get from Aqualog that had some pics - I don't remember seeing the barnacle blenny specifically.

Also the large burgess marine fish atlas (the blue one) has pics of many tube/barnacle blennies.

[gregr]

thanks!

[kpebbles]

we had one about a year ago..one of our first fish..and also our first great loss. he had such personality..looked like a little dragon, always looking around with his inquisitive eyes- extremely cute! but he got some type of fungus on his tail and it started spreading to his body. we treated him, but it was too late. :(