Pauline Walsh Jacobson, USA
Info
Entomacrodus nigricans Gill, 1859
Combtooth blennies are bottom-dwelling fish that inhabit rocky coasts and coral reefs. They don't have a swim bladder and have to keep themselves in the open water by constantly wagging their tail fins.
The pearl blenny (Entomacrodus nigricans) is found in shallow coastal waters in the western Atlantic. It is the type species of the genus Entomacrodus.
Entomacrodus nigricans is pale in color with dark brown stripes and extremely light white spots all over the body. The head is blunt and the eyes are medium-sized. He has cirri over his eyes and on the back of his neck. During reproduction, the male's cirri and dorsal fin enlarge. Entomacrodus nigricans has slender, sharp teeth resembling combs, which is what the term comb-tooth blenny refers to. The dorsal fin has 13 spines and 14–15 soft rays, while the anal fin has 2 spines and 16 rays. This species can reach a total length of 10 centimeters.
Entomacrodus nigricans occurs in the western central Atlantic, where its range extends from Bermuda to southeastern Florida, west to the Gulf of Mexico, from the Florida Keys to Campeche, Mexico, and south to the Caribbean Sea.
The pearl blenny prefers shallow water and is usually found near the surface and in tide pools or rock pools. It can be found at depths of 0-8m, but usually stays a little shallower at 3m.
Entomacrodus nigricans is predominantly diurnal and feeds mainly on algae. It can survive on land for a period of time, being able to actively switch tide pools while traversing short stretches of land. The flat eyes then allow a vision similar to that of a bird. Entomacrodus nigricans is able to survive out of water in the shade for about 2.5 hours, up to 3.5 hours at night, but only 7 minutes in direct sunlight.
Males look for small crevices or empty shells, which they clear out and in which the female spawns. The eggs have a sticky pad that they use to stick to the inside of the nest. The males guard the eggs and fan them with fresh water until they hatch.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
Combtooth blennies are bottom-dwelling fish that inhabit rocky coasts and coral reefs. They don't have a swim bladder and have to keep themselves in the open water by constantly wagging their tail fins.
The pearl blenny (Entomacrodus nigricans) is found in shallow coastal waters in the western Atlantic. It is the type species of the genus Entomacrodus.
Entomacrodus nigricans is pale in color with dark brown stripes and extremely light white spots all over the body. The head is blunt and the eyes are medium-sized. He has cirri over his eyes and on the back of his neck. During reproduction, the male's cirri and dorsal fin enlarge. Entomacrodus nigricans has slender, sharp teeth resembling combs, which is what the term comb-tooth blenny refers to. The dorsal fin has 13 spines and 14–15 soft rays, while the anal fin has 2 spines and 16 rays. This species can reach a total length of 10 centimeters.
Entomacrodus nigricans occurs in the western central Atlantic, where its range extends from Bermuda to southeastern Florida, west to the Gulf of Mexico, from the Florida Keys to Campeche, Mexico, and south to the Caribbean Sea.
The pearl blenny prefers shallow water and is usually found near the surface and in tide pools or rock pools. It can be found at depths of 0-8m, but usually stays a little shallower at 3m.
Entomacrodus nigricans is predominantly diurnal and feeds mainly on algae. It can survive on land for a period of time, being able to actively switch tide pools while traversing short stretches of land. The flat eyes then allow a vision similar to that of a bird. Entomacrodus nigricans is able to survive out of water in the shade for about 2.5 hours, up to 3.5 hours at night, but only 7 minutes in direct sunlight.
Males look for small crevices or empty shells, which they clear out and in which the female spawns. The eggs have a sticky pad that they use to stick to the inside of the nest. The males guard the eggs and fan them with fresh water until they hatch.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
