Chessboard blenny

Where they come from

The chessboard blenny (Starksia sluiteri) is a tiny Caribbean cryptic blenny, usually found tucked into coral rubble and sponge-covered rock from shallow reefs down to moderate depths. They sit and watch from little holes, then hop to the next nook like they own the block.

Setting up their tank

Give them a mature, rock-heavy setup. They are small, so a single fish does fine in 10-20 gallons, but the key is structure. Think caves, crevices, and piles of rubble where they can back in and peek out. Bare, new tanks make them stressed and skinny.

• Live rock and rubble: stack loosely so there are multiple bolt-holes and shaded ledges.
• Substrate: fine sand to small crushed coral. They do not dig, but they like to perch low.
• Lighting: moderate to low. Bright reef lights are fine if you give shaded spots.
• Flow: moderate with quieter pockets. Too much blast and they pin themselves to the rock.
• Lid: tight-fitting. They are jumpers, especially first week.

A refugium helps a ton with pods. If you do not run one, seed the tank with copepods and let the system age before adding the fish.

• Temperature: 75-80 F (24-27 C)
• Salinity: 1.024-1.026
• pH: 8.1-8.4
• Nitrate: under 20 ppm
• Phosphate: low but not zero

What to feed them

They pick at tiny critters on the rock, but you can get them onto prepared foods. Start small and tempting, then build a routine.

• Live or refrigerated pods (Tigriopus, Tisbe) for the first week or two.
• Frozen foods: enriched baby brine, cyclops, finely chopped mysis, calanus, roe.
• High-quality micro pellets (0.5-1 mm), offered sparingly once they recognize them.

Feed small portions 2-3 times daily at first. Target feeding with a pipette right to their perch helps a shy newcomer. I like to turn off the pumps for 5-10 minutes so the food settles around their hideout.

How they behave and who they get along with

They are perch-and-dash fish. Expect them to claim one small zone and watch the world from there. Once settled, they get bold at feeding time and do quick, jerky hops between holes.

• Good tankmates: small gobies, peaceful clownfish, cardinalfish, firefish, small basslets like royal grammas (watch territories), scooter blennies if the tank is large and pod-rich.
• Use caution: wrasses and dottybacks can be food bullies and may outcompete or harass them.
• Avoid: hawkfish and larger predatory fish that view tiny blennies as snacks.
• Reef-safe with corals: yes. They may snack on very small fanworms and micro crustaceans.
• Inverts: fine with snails and larger cleaner shrimp. Tiny decorative shrimp (sexy, anemone shrimp) are risky.

Breeding tips

They are cave spawners. A bonded pair will choose a small cavity, clean it, and lay adhesive eggs inside. The male usually guards. Getting a pair is the hardest part, since sexing is subtle and they are not always available in groups.

• Provide multiple snug caves and shells near the bottom.
• Keep them well fed on varied, meaty foods.
• Watch for nest-guarding behavior and a brighter, more defensive male.
• Eggs hatch in about a week depending on temperature. Larvae are tiny and pelagic.
• For rearing, use greenwater with rotifers and copepod nauplii, gentle circular flow, and meticulous water quality.

Common problems to watch for

• Starvation: new specimens often rely on pods at first. Have live foods ready.
• Shyness after arrival: dim the lights a bit, feed near the perch, and be patient.
• Jumping: lid gaps cause surprises, especially during spooks or disputes.
• Food competition: fast feeders will steal everything. Target feed or use a feeding station.
• Territorial spats: other small blennies or similar perchers can trigger fights.
• Disease from shipping stress: quarantine with hiding spots, observe closely. If you medicate, dose copper carefully and monitor appetite.
• Microfauna crash: heavy filtration or overzealous cleaning can wipe pods. Keep a refugium or reseed periodically.