Red-spotted Blenny

About

The red-spotted blenny (Salarias segmentatus) is a small, charismatic fish from the shallow reef systems of Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Palau. Out in the wild, adults tend to be loners, picking their way across algae-covered rocks and coral rubble in lagoon reef environments, grazing on the algae that grows around coral bases. That diet translates well to the aquarium, where this species will make itself useful by working over any film algae on rocks and glass. The red-spotted pattern on its body makes it easy to pick out among the rockwork, and like most blennies it has a habit of perching in crevices and peering out with its independently moving eyes, giving it a personality that's hard not to enjoy. It's a solitary species by nature, so keeping more than one in the same tank can lead to squabbles, especially in a smaller setup. At under four and a half inches and with a manageable care level, it's a reasonable choice for someone setting up their first reef or fish-only saltwater tank, provided there's enough live rock to supply grazing opportunities and plenty of hiding spots to help it feel secure.