About Linespot Fangblenny
Striped fang blenny — venomous to predators, peaceful to everything else. Mimics and is mimicked by several other species. A hardy mid-water swimmer that adds personality without aggression. Good first-fang-blenny pick.
Meiacanthus grammistes, the striped blenny, also called the striped fang blenny, grammistes blenny, line-spot harptail blenny or striped poison-fang blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny from the western Pacific Ocean. The fish stays in the open ocean, but travels into shallow saltwater and brackish estuaries. This venomous species occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Slender body with bold horizontal black stripes on yellow, with a forked tail. Distinctive among blennies for both coloration and behavior.
In your tank. Mid-water swimmer rather than the typical perching blenny. Venomous defensive bite — predators learn to avoid it, which is why several other species mimic Meiacanthus coloration. Peaceful with non-predator tankmates.
Care notes. Reef-safe and beginner-friendly. The defensive bite is no threat to humans during normal handling (gloves recommended for tank maintenance regardless). Add early in the stocking order.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Indo-Pacific reefs; widely available ($30–60). Omnivore — nori, mysis, brine, prepared marine foods.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 279310).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: Nhobgood · CC BY-SA 3.0 (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).