Redstreaked Blenny

About

The redstreaked blenny (Cirripectes stigmaticus) is a small, characterful fish found across a vast range from the east African coast through the Indian Ocean and into the western-central Pacific. In the wild it occupies the shallow, wave-washed edges of seaward reef slopes, typically in less than 10 meters of water, where it picks through rich coral and algal growth among Acropora and Pocillopora formations. It also turns up on rocky and coralline rubble. The species gets its common name from the red streaking pattern on the head, which makes it easy to pick out once you know what you're looking for. Like other members of its genus, it has the curious biological capacity for facultative air-breathing. A useful trick in the surge-swept reef zones it calls home. In the aquarium it does best with plenty of live rock that mimics the algae-rich reef flat environment it prefers, giving it both grazing opportunities and sheltered spots to retreat into. It tends to be found alone or in small groupings in nature, and can show territorial behavior toward other blennies or similarly shaped fish, so tankmate selection deserves some thought. Overall it's a rewarding fish for a hobbyist who can meet its need for a well-established, algae-bearing reef setup.