Rock Blenny:
Total size: around 5in.
Scientific Name: Salarias sp.
The personality of all tanks! These blennies will make you laugh by watching their behavior. They are great "pet" fish because they seem to pay more attention to you and their surrounding than other fish do. They leap from rock to rock munching on algae. They are a fan of frozen foods such as blood worms also, so make sure they are fed too, not just as your clean up crew. They are no doubt reef safe, and should only be kept in reef aquariums, or in aquarium with lots of live rock so they don't starve, and they have a place to hide and blend. They should be kept solitary, no other blennies of any kind, they will attack and kill others of their species.
Tank mates:
Most community fish
*no other blennies
Scooter Dragonet: (Scooter Blenny)
Total size: 2 ½ to 3in.
Scientific Name: Synchiropus sp.
This species is really a dragonet, but because of its blending abilities, such as the blennies, it is often called the scooter blenny. This little creature scoots around the bottom of your tank. Not often does it swim, or go on rocks, so make sure you have some sand are for it. It eats micro organisms in the sand, but willingly eats food placed in the tanks. This species is a good clean up crew for eating micro organisms. Because of its small size, it should be kept with only community type fish in a reef tank, or a mini reef.
Tank mates:
Community fish
Mini reef suitable (for sea horses and other non aggressive species.
Mandarin Fish: (Dragonet)
Total size: around 3in.
Scientific Name: Pterosynchriopus splendidus.
The Mandarin fish is extremely colorful. It is very small, with strange patterns of strips, and spots. Often with blues, purples, oranges, and reds. It is very peaceful and shouldn't be kept with anything that would consider harming it. The Mandarin fish rides around the rocks, eating micro organisms. This fish is extremely passive, the only complaint about it, is that it might starve to death because it runs out of micro organisms, or decides to stop eating. There should be close to no competition in the tank so it gets its fair share.
Tank mates:
Docile community fish only
Spotted Mandarin Fish: (Psychedelic Fish:
Total size: 3in.
Scientific Name: Synchiropus picturatus
Not seen as often as the mandarin fish, but also very colorful. Its body is surrounded in olive green, with darker olive green spots, highlighted with fluorescent yellow, orange, blue, and green. If you have a large tank then you could easily keep this and a mandarin fish together. You should watch the spotted mandarin around the mandarin fish, aggression may occur. They humming bird type fish flutter around and swim more than the other dragonets explained here, and are another good "pet" fish.
Tank mates:
Docile community fish only
Purple Fire Goby: (Firefish)
Total size: around 3in.
Scientific Name: Nemateleotris decora
Gobies, blennies, and dragonets are all closely related species. Blennies have "eye brow" type feelers above their eyes, while dragonets have unique crest fins. The firefish is very popular. This small animal has been said to like solitary conditions, but many aquarists say that they keep this species in a school. Firefish need a fairly deep tank because they are extremely nervous, and may jump. The term "firefish" is cut into two different species. The species I'm dealing with is less often found and a slightly different color. The purple firefish has a bright purple backside, fading into pink and orange, while the more commonly seen firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) has a red back side, fading into black, with yellow fins. Both of these species are very attractive and prefer to be kept in reef aqauriums. They are often scared of wrasse species. When housing these two species together, make sure you have a large tank.
Tank mates:
Community fish
