Acanthemblemaria macrospilus

(Brock, 1940)

Tube Blenny, Mexican Barnacle Blenny

Range: Eastern Central Pacific: Southern Baja California to Acapulco in Mexico and the Revillagigedo Islands.

Size: 3 inches (6 cm)

Natural Environment: Found in shallow rocky waters and almost always found in empty barnacles or worm/mollusk tubes. Usually found at depths between 6 – 50 feet (2 – 15 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, having a mottled black and white body and fins with pink or orange on the front dorsal and a black spot at the base of the front dorsal.

Can be maintained in either fish-only or reef aquariums with each having numerous hiding places, e.g., rocky crevices, empty barnacles, worm and/or mollusk tubes to inhabit. Tankmates must be peaceful, as even moderately aggressive tankmates will prevent this species from getting its share of the food when available.

Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and other meaty type marine fresh or frozen foods, which should be finely chopped and dispensed upstream so the water current brings the food to within the area it inhabits. Needs two feedings per day.

If difficult to get feeding in the beginning, try some live foods, such as adult fortified brine shrimp.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Blennioidei

Family: Chaenopsidae

Genus: Acanthemblemaria

FYI: Will quickly grab food particles from the water column and retuned to its place of hiding in a wink of the eye!

Rarely is the body seen, as it lives in its surroundings with only the head showing.

Constantly watches the area above it, waiting for a meal to come its way.

An excellent nano aquarium inhabitant, as its peaceful and easy to feed.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 78°F (22 – 25°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5