🐠 Blackline Blenny (Meiacanthus nigrolineatus)
A Yellow-Grey Body With a Bold Black Lateral Stripe • A Semi-Pelagic Swimmer That Hovers in Open Water • A Peaceful, Beginner-Friendly Fang Blenny
 
📋 The Blackline Blenny, also known as the Blackline Fangblenny, displays a grey-blue to yellow body with a bold black stripe running the full length along its side.
It comes from the shallow reefs of the Western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, unusual among blennies in being semi-pelagic; thanks to a well-developed swim bladder, it hovers comfortably in open mid-water rather than staying glued to the substrate like most true blennies. Every Blackline Blenny we ship is feeding well.
This species is a true "fang blenny," carrying a pair of small, venomous canine teeth used purely for self-defence, most notably, if swallowed by a larger predator, it bites the inside of the predator's mouth and is typically spat back out unharmed. For aquarium keepers, this poses essentially no real risk; any accidental nip feels similar to a mild bee sting and isn't dangerous, so there's no need to be overly cautious with hands in the tank, though care is still worth taking when handling this fish in a net. Interestingly, the venom-free Red Sea Mimic Blenny has evolved to closely resemble this species, borrowing its reputation for protection from predators without the venom itself. It's peaceful and reef safe. It reaches up to 9.5cm, so a 75L tank suits it well.
 
💡 Highlights
⚫ Bold Black Lateral Stripe: Runs the full length of the body against a yellow-grey base
🌊 Semi-Pelagic Swimmer: Hovers in mid-water rather than staying at the substrate
⚠️ Mildly Venomous, Not Dangerous: Defensive bite feels like a bee sting, no real risk to keepers
🌿 Reef Safe: Fully compatible with corals and invertebrates
🧠 Beginner Friendly: Hardy, peaceful, and easy to keep