Xiphasia setifer

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Facts
Latin name Xiphasia setifer - Swainson, 1839
Local name Hairtail blenny
Family Blenniidae - Xiphasia
Origin East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea, Indonesia, New Zealand, Central/West Pacific
Max length 53 cm (20.9")
As aquarium fish
Minimum volume 1000 l (264 gal)
Hardiness Average
Suitable for aquarium Suitable with care
Reef safe Reef safe with caution
Aggressiveness Might be aggressive towards similar species
Feed
Recommended Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)
Zooplankton (Cyclops, pods...)
Beware of
Can be a threat to small fish

This spicies might be a threat to smaller fishes.

Can be a threat towards small crustaceans

This species can be a threat towards small crustaceans, e.g. small shrimp.

Keep in mind
Thrive best on their own

These fish flourish better without other members of the same species in the aquarium.

Hiding places

This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.

Sandy substrate

This species thrives best if there is sufficient sand into which it can dig itself in.

Nocturnal

This species is nocturnal and therefore the most active when the light is dimmed or turned off.

Descriptions and further reading
Family description (Blenniidae)

There are many differences within the Toothcomb Blennies family, some eat algae whilst others eat zooplankton. There are many families of Blennies, this is merely one of them.

What they have in common are their oblong shape and long dorsal fin. Some species have small "legs" used to move around the bottom.

These Blennies do not normally get very big and are therefore a good choice for both small and large aquaria. They are not often very colorful, but many have a fun personality which many aquarists fall for.

The species of the families Aspidontus and Plagiotremus imitate Cleaner Wrasses and can therefore be difficult to identify.

FishBase
Aquarium trade Yes
Distribution Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and False Bay, South Africa to Vanuatu, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
English common names Snake blenny
Snakeblenny
Hairtail blenny
Hairtail snakeblenny
Hair-tail blenny
References and further reading

About references

Barry Wisebram. 2015. Fincasters Episode 70 Hairfin Eel Blenny - Fincasters - (English)

Jeff Kurtz. 2007. Combtooth Blennies: Bewitching Bottom Dwellers - Tropical Fish Hobbyist - (English)
Scott W. Michael. Reef Aquarium Fishes: 500+ Essential-to-know Species - TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)
Bob Fenner. The True/Combtooth Blennies, Family Blenniidae - Wet Web Media - (English)
Bob Fenner. Blennioids: Blennies and Blenny-Like Fishes - Wet Web Media - (English)