Fang blennies from the genus Meiacanthus are venemous. When they get swallowed by a large predator they supposedly bite the inside of the mouths of the predator, who then (hopefully) promptly spits the blenny out, no worse for wear.
A bunch of books say that predators don't bother these guys because they know how unpleasant they can be when they bite them. But how would a captive fish know that these guys are predators? I understand in the wild maybe they tried to eat one once and got bit so then they learned not to go after them, but will they know even if they have been living in an aquarium for years? And what if the predator instead of swallowing whole just takes a big bite out of the head...i dont think the blenny has any defense against that.
Soooooooooooooo, how many of you guys have kept these fish with large predators like groupers, triggers, big wrasse, puffers, etc.?
I am tempted to put one in with my two puffers but a little nervous because one of them was living with a pair of black mollies for a few months all peacefully and then one day ate one of them, must have liked the taste, because the next day took a big bite of the other ones head. I was able to save the second one though but I would hate to deliberately get another fish eaten by my porcupine puffer.
A bunch of books say that predators don't bother these guys because they know how unpleasant they can be when they bite them. But how would a captive fish know that these guys are predators? I understand in the wild maybe they tried to eat one once and got bit so then they learned not to go after them, but will they know even if they have been living in an aquarium for years? And what if the predator instead of swallowing whole just takes a big bite out of the head...i dont think the blenny has any defense against that.
Soooooooooooooo, how many of you guys have kept these fish with large predators like groupers, triggers, big wrasse, puffers, etc.?
I am tempted to put one in with my two puffers but a little nervous because one of them was living with a pair of black mollies for a few months all peacefully and then one day ate one of them, must have liked the taste, because the next day took a big bite of the other ones head. I was able to save the second one though but I would hate to deliberately get another fish eaten by my porcupine puffer.
