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ORA

ORA Harptail Blenny

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SKU
255321
$34.99 $34.99

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Caring for the animals and ensuring they arrive healthy is our top priority. Therefore, we only ship live animals via UPS Next Day Air on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday.* This minimizes the possibility the animals will be sitting in a shipping carrier distribution center over a weekend. Shipping centers can have varying temperatures that can put an animal's health at risk so we want to minimize their time there. We will ship the following week if you place an order on a weekend.

We also monitor for extreme temperatures across the country before we ship animals. If you live in a part of the country experiencing extreme heat or cold temperatures, we will work with you to ensure we avoid shipping on days that have a high chance of putting your new animal's health at risk.

As we get your animals ready for their journey to you, we will send you emails so you can track them along the way. Please have a plan to be home upon their arrival and to acclimate them as soon as they arrive so they are ready to thrive in their new environment.

This item ships directly from ORA.

 

Quick Stats

  • Care Level: Easy
  • Diet: Omnivore
  • Temperament: Peaceful
  • Reef-Safe: Yes
  • Venomous: Yes
  • Source: Captive Bred
  • Approximate Purchase Size: 1.25-1.5"
  • Approximate Max Size: 3.5"
  • Recommended Tank Size: 30 Gallons or Larger

 

Overview

This Harptail Blenny is shipped directly to you with exceptional care and high-grade packaging specifically made for live animals from our partner, ORA. This animal is certified by the Mr. Chili Sustainability Alliance, meaning it is sustainably bred, was raised with exceptional husbandry practices, and 2% of net proceeds will be donated to support Ocean Conservation.

The Harptail Blenny (Meiacanthus mossambicus) is a species ranging from the Western Indian Ocean to Africa. The Harptail Blenny has a golden-green body, and shows green above the eye. The yellow caudal fin has two long streamers in the classic fork tail shape.

Harptail Fang Blennies exhibit interesting mating behavior. Males will flash color when attracting females. Meiacanthids will typically do better as a group, either as a trio or a male with a harem of females. This unique family of free-swimming blennies is ideal for reef tanks and will delight those who wish to observe courtship on the reef.

All Fang Blennies have high metabolisms and should be fed small amounts at least 2-3 times a day. They will accept a wide assortment of prepared foods and make themselves visible in the water column most of the time. The Harptail Blenny should be provided with ample rockwork in which to hunt and hide when threatened.

Note: Image is a representation of what to expect. The fish you receive may vary slightly in appearance.

 

Aquarium Requirements

Aquarium Size

More space is always beneficial, but a minimum tank size of 30 gallons is recommended for a Harptail Blenny. A larger tank offers more stability in water parameters, which is beneficial for all inhabitants.

Habitat Recommendations

Harptail Blennies are relatively adaptable but thrive best in an environment that mimics their natural habitat. Here’s how to set up their ideal home:

  • Aquascaping: Incorporate plenty of live rock formations to create hiding spots. This not only provides security, but also promotes beneficial biological filtration.
  • Substrate: Use sand or fine gravel as the substrate. These materials are easy to clean and provide a natural look.

Water Parameters

Maintaining proper water parameters is crucial for the health and well-being of your fish. While Harptail Blennies are considered hardy, providing a stable environment will allow them to thrive and stay healthy.

  • Temperature: Keep the water temperature between 75-78°F. Stability is key, so use a reliable heater that can limit any temperature swings to about +/- 1°F or less.
  • pH Level: This fish will do well in a wide pH range from about 7.7 to 8.5.
  • Salinity: The specific gravity should be between 1.020-1.026 (27-35ppt). Use a refractometer to monitor salinity levels accurately.
  • Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate: Ammonia and nitrite levels should be undetectable, while nitrate levels should be kept below 20 ppm. Regular water changes and proper filtration will help to achieve this.
  • Water Flow: Moderate water movement is ideal. This is most often achieved by using powerheads in the aquarium to move water around. Adequate water flow helps push uneaten food and fish waste into your filtration and also keeps the water oxygenated.

Diet

Harptail Blennies are Omnivores, meaning they eat both meaty and plant-based foods. Offering both will give your new fish the nutrition it needs to not only survive, but thrive in your aquarium. They're typically not picky eaters and will accept food in a variety of forms.

Primary Diet

  • Frozen Food: Mysis Shrimp or other marine-specific frozen foods can provide a quality diet, but with less risk of overfeeding vs pellet or flake foods. 
  • Pellet Food: Sinking pellets are a great option, especially for the Harptail Blenny that prefers to feed in the water column, rather than at the water surface. Pellet foods are typically very nutrient dense, so care should be taken to avoid overfeeding the aquarium, which can contribute to poor water quality.

Feeding Frequency

All Fang Blennies have high metabolisms and should be fed small amounts at least 2-3 times a day.

Compatibility

When it comes to tank mates, the Harptail Blenny is peaceful and can coexist harmoniously with a variety of other marine species.

Common Tank Mates

Here are some ideal tank mates:

  • Fish: Clownfish, Cardinalfish, most Wrasse, Firefish, Tangs, Dwarf Angelfish, and other peaceful fish.
  • Invertebrates: Blennies won't bother most invertebrates, so Cleaner Shrimp, Hermit Crabs, Snails, Urchins, and more are all safe to keep.
  • Coral: The Harptail Blenny is considered Reef Safe and can be kept with Soft, LPS, or SPS coral.

Behavioral Notes

  • Venomous: Fang Blennies are considered venomous, but rarely have any incidents with their human caretakers. This is believed to be a defense mechanism used to protect themselves from larger fish.
  • Jumping: Harptail Blennies are known to be jumpers, so a tight-fitting top is highly recommended.
  • Group Behavior: This fish will typically do better as a group, either as a trio or a male with a harem of females.

Acclimation Process

Acclimation instructions are included in each box, but if you misplaced yours or want to know what to expect ahead of time, you can always find an extra copy here: Fish Acclimation Instructions

ORA Live Goods Shipping

We use high quality, special packaging to send your animals to you to ensure they are as comfortable as possible. Shipping is FREE when you spend $179.99 or more on live animals. Live animal orders totaling less than $179.99 will incur a special handling fee of $39.99 to cover the cost of overnight shipping and the packaging materials.

 

Live fish are shipped Monday-Thursday*

Orders placed before 11AM EST will ship the same day.

Orders placed Thursday after 11AM EST will ship the following Monday.

Fish are shipped via UPS Next Day Air.

Adverse weather conditions may result in shipping delays starting 10/8/24. ORA will resume shipping after the inclement weather clears.

Note: Live fish can only be shipped to the contiguous United States at this time.

In the Event Your Animal Doesn't Make the Trip

As the animals that you ordered from us are Mr. Chili Certified, you can have confidence that every effort has been taken to ensure they arrive alive, however despite our best care, sometimes the animals don’t make the journey. In the unfortunate event that your animals do not arrive alive, please contact us immediately (within 12 hours) of delivery and send a photo to us directly: customercare@bulkreefsupply.com. We will either reimburse you for the animal that did not make the trip or work with you on receiving another one.

 

Full details on our Live Fish Shipping & DOA Policy can be found on the Livestock Shipping Policy page.

More Information
SKU 255321
Aquarium Type Saltwater
Species Meiacanthus mossambicus
Origin Western Indian Ocean to Africa
Care Level Easy
Temperature Tropical (77–82°F)
Min. Tank Size 30 Gallons
Temperament Peaceful
Beginner Friendly Yes
Reef Safe Yes
Additional Notes Venomous: Yes
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