Canary Blenny

Meiacanthus oualanensis

The Canary Blenny can easily be identified by its energetic yellow color, and also by its seemingly forked tail which has earned it another title of Fork Tail Blenny. This fish requires cautious consideration prior to introducing it to an established environment. It can frequently be aggressive towards other fish that it sees as predators or competition. It is best to keep only one Canary Blenny per 30-gallon tank due to its territorial behavior. It has also earned another common name Canary Fanged Blenny because of the painful bite it can inflict on fish, and occasionally fingers that happen to be in its line of attack.

Living in the wild near Fiji and surrounding waters, the Meiacanthus oualanensis hunts along live rock bottoms for small invertebrates and various sources of plant matter. If cared for properly and provided with adequate food sources Canary Blenny poses little threat to reef life and larger fish, unless attacked first in which case it will likely strike back. The Canary Blenny is one of the larger breeds and can grow up to 5 inches in captivity. Sometimes considered poisonous, but mostly just painful, the Canary Blenny can be a lively addition if handled properly and the hood locked from prying little fingers.