Red-lipped Blenny

Maintenance difficulty:
   The Red-lipped Blenny is easy to keep. The Red-lipped blenny will eat almost everything and in a well established aquarium will seldom need to be fed.

Maintenance/Foods:
   Blennies are omnivores. They do well on a diet which includes all kinds of algae and frozen marine foods. In a well established aquarium or a mini-reef they will usually find plenty to eat with minimal supplemental feeding.

Habitat: Natural geographic location:
   Red-lipped Blenny are found in the Eastern Atlantic: Azores and Madeira; Canary, Ascension, St. Helena, Cape Verde, San Tomé and Annobon Islands; St Paul's Rocks; and along the coast of west Africa from Senegal to Angola. Western Atlantic: Trindade Island (Brazil). Bermuda, North Carolina to Florida (USA), Bahamas, Caribbean, including Antilles to Brazil. Rare in northern Gulf of Mexico. They are found at depths of 10 to 20 meters (33 - 60 ft).

Social Behaviors:
Can be territorial with fish less than twice its own size.

Sex: Sexual differences:
   The male is usually larger. It is thought that the male has an extra black edge on the ventral and tail fins.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   We have found no information at this time (10/01/99).

Light: Recommended light levels:
   No special requirements.

Temperature:
   No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine fish is between 74 and 79 degrees fahrenheit.

Length/Diameter of fish:
   Red-lipped Blenny adults can grow to 12.0 cm (4.7 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:
   A minimum 25 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
   No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
Usually spends most of its' time on rockwork or live rock near the bottom.

Availability:
   This fish is readily available and is inexpensive.