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Blennies
(See also the section on coldwater blenny species, here.)
Blennies are small, goby-like fishes that are found primarily in shallow marine habitats, and are especially common in the intertidal and subtidal zones. Relatively few are traded as aquarium fish. One new species in aquarium stores is Omobranchus zebra, a 6 cm (2 inch) fish that requires strongly brackish (SG 1.010) to fully marine conditions for long-term care. It will not adapt to completely fresh water. It is usually traded as the ‘striped blenny’ or ‘zebra blenny’.
Not much is known about its preferences in aquaria, but a mixed diet with plenty of small crustaceans and worms is useful. By analogy with other blennies, these fish are likely to be intolerant of immature aquaria and poor water quality. The water should have a high pH (at least 7.5), high hardness, and plenty of oxygen. Water temperature is not critical, but be aware that in warm weather (or overheated aquaria) the oxygen concentration will fall and these fish do seem to suffer.
Some specimens, presumably dominant males, seem to very territorial towards conspecifics to the point where they have been reported to kill other blennies in the tank with them. So in small aquaria is probably best to keep one to a tank. In larger tanks it may be possible to keep them either in large groups so that aggression is spread out, or else in small groups but with each fish having a clearly defined territory, such as an artificial cave of some type.