Acanthemblemaria macrospilus

Acanthemblemaria macrospilus, commonly known as the Barnacle blenny, is a tiny blenny. Their colour is usually greenish brown with a mottled patttern of spots and blotches. Their eyes, first part of the dorsal fin and base of the pectoral fins are red, as is the mouth en sometimes other parts of the face. Their head is covered in tiny blue spots.

These fish are usually found in empty barnacles or in worm and tube mollusk tubes, and only quickly leave the hole to eat or find a mate. In an aquarium an empty barnacle or tube mollusk will probably not be available but small holes in rocks will work as well, so make sure multple are present before introducing these fish. In a large aquarium multiple blennies is possible as long as enough territories can be formed, but in a nano tank they can best be kept alone or as a proven pair. They feed mainly on zooplankton and can best be fed with live and frozen food like copepods, artemia and small gammarus, but usually will learn to feed on high quality flakes and pellets as well!