Jewelled Blenny (Salarias Fasciatus)

Species Name : Salarias Fasciatus

Care Level : Easy, Moderate

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Assorted, Green, Tan

Diet : Herbivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 5"

Origin : Fiji, Indonesia

Family : Blenniidae

Minimum Tank Size : 30 gallons

Salarias Fasciatus (Jewelled Blenny), Algae Blenny, Sailfin Blenny, Jeweled Rockskipper is a popular marine aquarium fish species in Australasia.

The Jewelled Blenny (Salarias Fasciatus) has a unique appearance and charming personality. Salarias Fasciatus is usually tawny/green/grey with small black or blue spots on the head and darker stripes all over the body. Particularly attractive and beautiful features of this fish, if you look closely, are its sessile eyes surrounded by small dots, blunt head, large lips and antennae on top.

Like other blennies, the Jewelled Blenny  perches on live rocks, hides in caves, hops across the substrate, and feeds on microalgae. Provide a lot of caves and hiding places for the fish to feel secure and thus reduce stress.  You will need a system of at least 30 gallons, with a variety of live rock and stone work. The Sailfin Blenny will usually dwell near the tank bottom, scraping algae off one rock at a time, and hiding in caves when things become stirred. 

The Salarias Fasciatus is peaceful towards other fish unless the tank mate is similar in shape or appearance to the blenny. Be aware that they can be very aggressive towards other Blennies. Also in some instances towards food competitors, like the Surgeonfish, Rabbitfish or similar. It is best to house the Jewelled Blenny  singly unless kept in a larger aquarium and the two are a mated pair. It is known to nip at small-polyped stony coral and clam mantles.

The Salarias Fasciatus is an algae-eating, herbivorous fish that eats filamentous green microalgae, diatoms, filamentous blue-green microalgae, and detritus. May starve in tanks that are not well established or that lack algae for it to graze on. Will consume filamentous algae as well as frozen mysis shrimp and other meaty foods. It is recommended to regularly feed Nori as a marine algae supplement. 

 Size: Small: 1" to 1-1/2"; Medium: 1-1/2" to 2-1/2"; Large: 2-1/2" to 3-1/2"; XLarge: 3-1/2" to 5"