New fish - male Orange Throat Pike Blenny

[Brie]

This is an awesome fish. I've been totally obsessed with them since I discovered em last month. Stoked we got in a couple of males at the shop so I could snag one.

These are SUPER cool fish. My pics really dont do em justice. Mine chose to hide in a dark shadowed area of the tank, making crisp photos all but impossible.

The males seem to do a color flash thing similar to flasher wrasses. Go from brownish to dark black and bright blue. MUCH better photos of a pair of these fish in the wild can be seen HERE. Its amazing how wide they can gape their mouths, too.


Click pic for full size

 

[coralcrab]

Cool fish! In my experience with a related species (Chaenopsis limbaughi) they were obligate burrowers in seagrass beds. Are you setting anything up anything special for them? How about temperature?

 

[Brie]

Cool fish! In my experience with a related species (Chaenopsis limbaughi) they were obligate burrowers in seagrass beds. Are you setting anything up anything special for them? How about temperature?

I've read they live in tube worm tubes or other narrow burrows, so was planning on putting small sections of 1/2" tubing in various spots in the sand for it to live in.... Going to do a water change tomorrow and put them in when I siphon out my sand... Temp wise, I know they're from the Catalina area and temp should be 72-76... I keep my tank around 76-77 and had good luck with Catalina gobies at that temp so figured he'd be happy around the same. He snatched up some mysis shrimp after being the tank for only half an hour so figure he's settling in.

 

[returnofsid]

While the link you provided does have great photos, I don't know that they're any better than the amazing photos you provided!!! WOW, incredible fish!! From what I just read, I agree with the Tube Worm type housing, along with a coarse "gravel" sized rubble.

It also seems they're found, down as far south as the Baja, so I'd imagine your temperatures will be just fine for them.

Again, great pics Brie!!!

 

[Brie]

While the link you provided does have great photos, I don't know that they're any better than the amazing photos you provided!!! WOW, incredible fish!! From what I just read, I agree with the Tube Worm type housing, along with a coarse "gravel" sized rubble.

It also seems they're found, down as far south as the Baja, so I'd imagine your temperatures will be just fine for them.

Again, great pics Brie!!!

Thanks Mike.

yeah, I'm hoping he does well... The black substrate I have is a coarse mix of stuff and I think he'll like the little tube burrows im going to make.

 

[J-Ranko]

How often does it flare its dorsal fins and gape like the one in the linked pictures?

 

[declivis]

How often does it flare its dorsal fins and gape like the one in the linked pictures?

Well i've only had it a day, so haven't seen it yet. lol. I have a feeling it may only do it as a display for females or something, like you see in those photos. It gapes its mouth plenty at the other fish to warn them off, but not like the pics on that site.

PS: Oops dammit, this is Brie. Chris was logged in still.

 

[Brie]

How often does it flare its dorsal fins and gape like the one in the linked pictures?

I did it! LOL. Well kind of. I saw that he kept threatening my Sapphire damsel, so picked up my camera determined to get a shot of it.... Problem is he does it so quickly I dont really get a chance to set up the shot, so its blurry.. But hey, I got a pic of it! lol. Its pretty awesome. His colors completely flare up, goes ink black with neon blue spots all over, and his throat goes bright orange and pink. Super cool.

Click for full size

 

[Brie]

While the link you provided does have great photos, I don't know that they're any better than the amazing photos you provided!!! WOW, incredible fish!! From what I just read, I agree with the Tube Worm type housing, along with a coarse "gravel" sized rubble.

It also seems they're found, down as far south as the Baja, so I'd imagine your temperatures will be just fine for them.

Again, great pics Brie!!!

Well I did a water change and cleaning last night, and put in his new tube-home.. Woke up this morning and ran to the tank like a little kid on christmas morning, and there he was snug in his little tube. Its so damned cute. LOL.

 

[returnofsid]

Awesome pics!! Looks like a cobra striking!!!

Glad he likes his new tubular home! Totally Tubular! Never thought I'd say that on here, or anywhere else, for that matter!

 

[Gort]

Seems like a VERY cool fish!! May have to add one to my fish-wish-list. Is a tube-house sort of a necessity? Wonder if they could inhabit the nooks and crannies and tunnels of my Vida Rock?

 

[J-Ranko]

I just got a small one from Barrier Reef and it's acclimating now.

His colors and pattern are pretty amazing. He seems a bit small compared to my other fish--mainly because he's very thin although elongated like an eel.

 

[Smitty222]

Very cool, love the shot on the clam!

 

[flatteringchild]

How often do you guys get them in the store? How much are they?

 

[Adonijah]

Seems like a VERY cool fish!! May have to add one to my fish-wish-list. Is a tube-house sort of a necessity? Wonder if they could inhabit the nooks and crannies and tunnels of my Vida Rock?

Agreed. I think this is going on my wish list as well!

 

[Shallow~Reef]

Hi guys do you know of any suppliers who can get them in? Thanks

 

[Jozee]

He is one wicked-awesome looking fish - I think you got him added to everyone's wish-list...