Black Combtooth Blenny
The Black Combtooth Blenny – also known as Namive’s Blenny, Tribal Blenny or Yellowtail Black Blenny – isn’t often seen in the hobby. Adding one to your reef aquarium may just cause a little blenny envy among friends!
Useful for controlling microalgae on live rock and corals, these reef-safe herbivores pack plenty of personality, darting from perch to perch among the rockwork. Body coloration graduates from a primarily blackish-purple body to an electric indigo and yellow-white tail.
In nature, they are most commonly found among the shallow reef flats, but also inhabit estuaries and outer reef lagoons to about 60 feet deep. Combtooth Blennies are named for their distinctive fine teeth – about 100! – embedded in their lips rather than their jaw. They use these teeth to scrape algae from surfaces.
| Species | Black Combtooth Blenny (Namive’s Blenny) |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Shallow reef flats, estuaries, outer reef lagoons (up to 60 feet) |
| Body Color | Blackish-purple body, electric indigo and yellow-white tail |
| Teeth | Approximately 100 fine teeth in the lips |
| Feeding | Herbivorous; feeds on microalgae on live rock and corals |
FAQ
What is the primary role of the Black Combtooth Blenny in a reef aquarium?
The Black Combtooth Blenny helps control microalgae on live rock and corals, reducing algae buildup naturally.
How does the Black Combtooth Blenny differ from other blenny species?
It has a distinctive body coloration that shifts from blackish-purple to electric indigo and yellow-white in the tail, and it features about 100 fine teeth in its lips used for scraping algae.
What is the typical depth range where this blenny is found in nature?
In nature, it is commonly found in shallow reef flats and outer reef lagoons, up to about 60 feet deep.
Lucas Arnold –
Added a Black Combtooth Blenny to my 55-gallon reef tank and it’s been active since day one. It constantly moves around the rockwork, eating algae without disturbing corals. The color change from dark to bright tail is striking. Very active and peaceful in the tank.
Amy Sutherland –
I was hesitant to add a blenny due to size concerns, but this one is small and doesn’t seem aggressive. It’s been helping keep algae down on the live rock. The tail color is vibrant and it’s a great visual addition to the tank.
Heather Smith –
This blenny is a real eye-catcher. It moves quickly and seems to enjoy its feeding time. I noticed less algae on the rock after a few weeks. It’s a low-maintenance addition that brings personality to the tank.