Tailspot blennies in a 20g long

[monkeypie102]

So as part of my freshwater and saltwater collide I'm wanting to add a couple tailspot blennies to this tank... Ive been searching but I cant find any info as to housing multiple ones together... My friend said her lfs housed 5 in a 40b but most lfs over stock their tanks so it may have happened but the fish could have been stressed... Any info is highly welcomed!

 

[Ambition]

I think your best bet is going to be to get 4-6 of them. Place them in a QT type tank and let them pair off on their own. From there put the pair you like best and put them in the 20.

 

[Mark426]

I say only one. In general blennies of same species don't get along. They pair long enough to breed and do not form a bond.

A couple of years ago I had a nice peaceful tailspot and against my better judgment I tried to add another. The new addition was killed by the established blenny before I could return it to the store. I was surprised how vicious my peaceful blenny became, almost instantly. He became his old peaceful self as soon a the other blenny was gone. Tank was a 40 breeder.

 

[starkii]

I'd also say one. I was speaking to my friend who has tried this twice. He even got them which had been sitting on each other and being really friendly in the lfs but it didn't take long for this behaviour to change once in his tank. Needless to say he now has two each in seperate tanks after their killed their mates.
This was done with a lot of research as well. It is said that you can distinguish them by elongated tailfin rays. I and he would certainly doubt that it the case.

 

[Monkeyfish]

In a 20g tank - ONE blennie. With the exception of banacle blennies, one per species is a good rule, but in a tank that small, I wouldn't keep more than one blennie.

 

[peasofme]

one blenny per tank. you could however use a tank divider.

 

[rlpardue]

Hate to go against the grain here, but I have a pair of Ecsenius Ops (yellow-eyed combtooth blenny) that get along quite well. I purchased them both from the same tank in my LFS after seeing them "get along." There was a 3rd blenny of the same species in the tank that was clearly banished to a far corner.

I keep them in a 5x2x2 tank. They often peck algae together. They do fuss at each other from time to time, much like clownfish. The smaller one periodically has an enlarged belly. Pretty neat behavior. I would want to see a pair of blennies in the LFS tank together before buying them though - pairing them is difficult.

 

[peasofme]

what do yellow eyed's eat? i've wanted one but have never seen them in stores here.

 

[rlpardue]

They have pretty identical behavior and diet as tailspot blennies. Mine eat bits of mysis and various frozen foods I add to the tank; they eat very small pellets too. They also spend much of their time pecking algae off of rocks.

 

[dixiedog]

So as part of my freshwater and saltwater collide I'm wanting to add a couple tailspot blennies to this tank... Ive been searching but I cant find any info as to housing multiple ones together... My friend said her lfs housed 5 in a 40b but most lfs over stock their tanks so it may have happened but the fish could have been stressed... Any info is highly welcomed!

I agree with the group. The reason you can't find info on housing them together is that is basically can't be done.

I heard ONE GUY who kept two of them for a while at least ... he said all they did was spawn and fight, spawn and fight.

Sounds like my marriage, I said.:dance: