Bicolor Blenny
(Ecsenius bicolor)
A fun, almost "DR. Seuss" looking fish, that are intelligent, entertaining and active. As they seem only to be able to swim a short distance, it looks as if they are hopping rather then swimming. Mine stays perched in a little cavern at the very top of LR formation, watching everything going on below. Will jump out dart around for a bit the return to cave quickly turning himself around to go in tail first. Has several "favorite" holes around tank to hole up in periodically, but his home at top of tank is where he can be mostly seen. It will only chase of other fish if they come to close and not do them any harm. Its best to keep just one blenny at a time as they will fight over territories untill one is gone. May be jumpers. Eats anything rest of fish are getting.
 Adult Size: 4.5 inches (11.4cm) Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons Cost: $15-$20 +/- Temperament: Generally peaceful but may become territorial. (Bold) Care Difficulty: easy Temperature Range: 74°F - 82°F pH Range: 8.1 - 8.4 Salinity Range (specific gravity): 1.02 - 1.025 Diet Information: Omnivorous - a voracious eater that will eat a variety of foods including algae, flakes, pellets, frozen mysis shrimp, and frozen brine shimp. While the bicolor blenny will happily eat meaty foods, it must have some vegetable matter in its diet. If there is not enough algae in the tank, dried algae or seaweed should be added to ensure health. Additional Information : The bicolor blenny is one of the more personable saltwater aquarium fish available. With their unique mannerisms and a toad-like face, they often capture the interest of their owners and visitors alike. This is typically a hardy species and does well in an established aquarium with algae growth.The bicolor blenny is an active digger and will move sand, shells and small rocks to fit its needs. Rockwork should be well supported to ensure that rocks do not tumble down as a result of the blenny digging in and around its cave. While most individuals seem to be reef safe, some have been known to nip at corals or clams. A well fed blenny is less likely to disturb other inhabitants. Tank Mate Compatibility : A good community fish, but may become territorial with other similarly colored fish and gobies/blennies of any color. Breeding Information: Not recorded in captivity. Determining Sex: No reliable way to determine visually. Primary Area in Tank: Middle to bottom - will find a cave like structure and stay there. Acclimation Time: 3+ hours Coral Safe: Yes Invertebrate Safe: Yes Additional Facts: The Bicolor Blenny has an elongated body with the anterior colored in dark purple and the posterior in yellow to orange. They have long straight cirri. These little fish have tons of personality and love to find a favorite spot in the aquarium to call home. They will often use rock crevices, caves, and empty barnacles to hide their body and allow their head to poke out to keep an eye on what's going on. They love to graze on algae throughout the aquarium and will often experience "pale patches" on their face and body when lights are first turned on. The Bicolor Blenny should not be mixed with other Blennies in small tanks. They are great for reef tanks and will accept most fish foods. The Blenny Family is commonly confused with the Goby family. The Blennies are distinguished by their single continuous dorsal fin and habit of resting on the bottom with their body curved. These fish will usually have tiny appendages on the top of their heads called "cirri". Some Blennies inhabit tidal pools where the water is warm and shallow. They have incredible jumping ability and are known to jump from pool to pool, which lends to the other name they are known as: "Rock Skipper". Other Blennies are found hiding in crevices and caves at coral reefs. These fish have blunt heads and their teeth are combed, giving them the ability to scrape algae -- their primary food source -- from rock surfaces.
  References 3Reef November (2006) Fish of the month: Bicolour Blenny: Ecsenius Bicolor
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