Flametail Blenny

Flame Tail Blenny - Bold Color and Algae Control

The Flame Tail Blenny (Atrosalarias fuscus), also known as the Brown Coral Blenny, is a hardworking and distinctive addition to reef aquariums. Named for its striking red to orange tail that contrasts beautifully with its brown body, this active blenny combines eye-catching appearance with exceptional algae-grazing abilities. The Flame Tail is constantly on the move, hopping across rocks and glass to graze on nuisance algae, making it both visually interesting and practically beneficial for your reef.

Key Features:

• Distinctive Flame Tail: Vibrant red to orange tail provides striking contrast to brown body
• Exceptional Algae Control: Voracious grazer that constantly consumes hair algae and film algae
• Active Behavior: Constantly hopping and darting across rocks and glass
• Reef Safe: Completely safe with all corals and invertebrates
• Hardy & Adaptable: Tolerant of varying water conditions and easy to care for
• Beginner Friendly: Excellent choice for new reef keepers
• Entertaining Personality: Quirky behavior and expressive face make it fun to watch

Care Requirements:

Tank Size: Minimum 30 gallons
Diet: Herbivore/Omnivore - primarily grazes on algae but also accepts frozen mysis shrimp, spirulina, and herbivore pellets
Temperament: Peaceful; may be territorial with other blennies
Reef Compatibility: Excellent - will not harm corals or invertebrates
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced - suitable for all skill levels
Adult Size: 4-5 inches maximum

Distinctive Appearance:

The Flame Tail Blenny has a unique and eye-catching appearance:

• Body color ranges from brown to olive-brown with subtle mottling
• Tail (caudal fin) is vibrant red to orange, creating dramatic contrast
• Large, expressive eyes positioned high on the head
• Blunt, rounded head with small mouth
• Continuous dorsal fin running the length of the body
• The flame-colored tail is most vibrant in healthy, well-fed specimens

Exceptional Algae Control:

The Flame Tail Blenny is one of the most effective algae grazers available, spending virtually all its waking hours consuming nuisance algae. It readily eats:

• Hair algae (including stubborn varieties)
• Film algae on rocks and glass
• Diatoms and microalgae
• Some species of cyanobacteria
• Detritus and organic matter

A single Flame Tail Blenny can make a significant impact on algae levels in tanks experiencing blooms. Their constant grazing keeps algae in check and reduces maintenance needs, making them valuable members of any cleanup crew.

Active & Entertaining Behavior:

Flame Tail Blennies are constantly active, hopping and darting across rocks, coral branches, and even the aquarium glass. They use their pelvic fins to grip surfaces and move in quick, jerky motions as they graze. This energetic behavior is entertaining to watch and quite different from the perching behavior of many other blenny species. They're always on the move, always grazing, and always bringing motion and life to your aquarium.

Feeding:

While Flame Tail Blennies are excellent algae grazers, they should be supplemented with prepared foods to ensure complete nutrition, especially in tanks with limited natural algae growth. Offer herbivore pellets, frozen spirulina, mysis shrimp, and nori sheets clipped to the tank 1-2 times daily. A varied diet maintains their vibrant tail coloration and supports optimal health.

Behavior & Personality:

Flame Tail Blennies have quirky, entertaining personalities. They're curious, active, and often quite bold, hopping around the tank without fear. Their large, expressive eyes and constant motion make them endlessly fascinating to observe. They may establish favorite grazing areas but generally patrol the entire aquarium throughout the day.

Compatibility:

Flame Tail Blennies are peaceful and compatible with most tank mates including:

• Clownfish, gobies, dartfish, and other peaceful community fish
• Tangs, wrasses, and other semi-aggressive species
• All types of corals and invertebrates
• Shrimp, crabs, and snails

They may show territorial behavior toward other blennies or similarly shaped fish in smaller aquariums. Provide only one Flame Tail Blenny per tank unless you have a very large system (75+ gallons).

Tank Setup:

Provide plenty of live rock with algae growth for grazing, along with caves and crevices where the blenny can retreat if needed. While they spend most of their time actively grazing, they appreciate having secure hiding spots nearby. Moderate water flow is ideal, and they adapt well to various lighting conditions. A secure lid is recommended, as blennies can jump if startled.

Glass Grazing:

One of the most useful behaviors of Flame Tail Blennies is their willingness to graze on the aquarium glass. Unlike many algae eaters that focus only on rocks, Flame Tails will hop onto the glass and graze on film algae, helping keep your viewing panes clean. This makes them particularly valuable for maintaining clear glass between cleanings.

Color Maintenance:

The vibrant red-orange tail coloration is maintained through proper diet and water quality. Well-fed specimens with access to plenty of algae and supplemental foods display the most intense flame coloration. Foods with natural color enhancers (like spirulina and astaxanthin) help maintain the brilliant tail color.

Captive-Bred Advantage:

Our Flame Tail Blennies are captive-bred when available, ensuring superior health, disease resistance, and adaptability to aquarium conditions. Captive breeding also protects wild reef populations while providing you with a hardier, more resilient fish that's already acclimated to prepared foods and aquarium life.

Our Flame Tail Blennies are carefully selected, quarantined, and eating well before shipment. Each fish is backed by our live arrival guarantee, ensuring your hardworking algae-grazing companion arrives healthy and ready to bring its distinctive flame tail and exceptional algae control to your reef aquarium.