Ecsenius midas
| Common Names: | Midas Blenny Persian Blenny |
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| Family: | Blenniidae |
| Category: | Blennoid_Gobioid |
| Distribution: | Indo Pacific; Though found over a vast swath of the Pacific, the Midas blenny is concentrated around the islands of the Indo-Pacific. |
| Main Ecosystem: | Reef; Found in rocky areas with plenty of crevices, and always with healthy coral growth. |
| Temperament: | Peaceful; This is a peaceful aquarium fish. Midas blennies rarely bother tankmates, though they will sometimes chase after and even bite other blennies. This is usually not a problem in larger tanks with plenty of rocks for hideaways. Multiple Ecsenius midas can be kept in a tank, provided there is ample space and rock. A male/female pair is the best way to house two of these fish together. A Midas blenny should not be kept with aggressive fish or large predators. |
| Diet: | Carnivore; Midas blennies feed primarily on zooplankton, taking passing morsels from the water column. They have also been reported to scrape algae from hard surfaces like many of their relatives, but algae is a minor component of their diet. In the aquarium, these fish will happily take most smaller frozen foods as well as high quality flakes or pellets. |
| Care: | This is a hardy species which requires little care. All it needs is a cycled aquarium with rockwork, from which the fish will seek out a well-fitting crevice or two. Moderate current is preferred, along with open swimming space. This fish tolerates a wide range of water conditions. |
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| Potential Size: | Male: 13cm (5.1") Female: 13cm (5.1") |
| Water Region: | Middle; When not tucked away in a rock, these blennies usually swim throughout the middle of the water column. |
| Activity: | Diurnal; This species is inactive at night. Individuals hole up in a favorite cave. |
| Gender: | Females are typically smaller than males, and have a reduced first dorsal spine compared to that of the males. |
| Breeding: | The Midas blenny lays adhesive eggs on the substrate. Little else is known about breeding, which has never been reported with an Ecsenius species in the aquarium. |
| Variants: | The primary color variant is a form with a nearly golden body, reported to come from the African coast. This fish is capable of changing color rapidly in response to stress or other factors; what often looks like a variant is simply a blenny that has altered its appearance. |
| Comments: | The Midas blenny is popular for both its coloration and personality. Its odd undulating swimming motion makes this fish seem comical and endearing, and its hardiness, appearance, and accessibility create instant appeal for beginning fishkeepers. E. midas is unusual in that it is not a herbivore like most other fish in the genus. |
| Main Colours: | Brown, Yellow |
| Markings: | No Markings |
| Mouth: | Normal |
| Tail: | Concave |
| Search: | Show similar species Find compatible species |
| Image Credit: | sirbooks |
| Submitted By: | sirbooks |
| Contributors: | sirbooks |
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