Emblemaria hypacanthus
| Identification | A small tube-dwelling “signal” blenny from the Sea of Cortez. Mottled brown; males sport a tall, sail-like dorsal fin they flick up in display. Sold as males for their showy sail. |
|---|---|
| Maximum Length | about 2.5″ |
| Origin | Eastern Pacific — Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico |
| Minimum Tank Size | 20 Gal. |
| Reef Compatibility | Reef safe |
Behavior
A charming little character that claims a hole or worm tube, then perches in the entrance and repeatedly raises its big sail dorsal to court females and warn off rivals. Peaceful, reef safe, and endlessly watchable in a small tank.
Diet & Feeding
Micro-carnivore. Offer copepods, mysis, enriched brine and other small meaty foods; a mature, pod-rich tank suits it well.
Cautions
A cool-water subtropical fish from the Sea of Cortez — it does best at slightly lower temperatures and may not thrive if kept very warm. Shy; give it rubble and a tube or hole to claim. A jumper.