Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)

Bicolor Blenny Ecsenius bicolor
Name	Bicolor Blenny
Name Lat.	Ecsenius bicolor
Family	Combtooth Blennies
Family lat.	Blenniidae
Order	Blennies
Order lat.	Blenniiformes
Origin	Indo-West Pacific
Habitat	Lagoons, seaward reefs
Diet	Omnivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Pair
Reef Compatible	Yes
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	N/A
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	10 cm
Temperature	22-26 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 200 l
US Units
Size	4"
Temperature	72-79 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 50 gal

Distribution and habitat

Ecsenius bicolor are widely distributed in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the east coast of Africa to Micronesia and from the Ryukyu Islands to Australia. They live in lagoons and on outer reefs with moderate currents down to 25 m depth.

Maintenance

They need a well-structured aquarium with a reef structure (hiding, resting and retreat possibilities), with living stones, which they can graze on and which act like a biological filter as well as a not too fine, deep substrate. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free sands, gravels, stones or sea sand of various grain sizes may be used as substrate

Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l	nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.

Diet

In nature they feed mainly on zooplankton and algae. The feed change usually succeeds without problems. The food supply should consist of a commercially available, vitamin-enriched frozen special food mix for planktivores or live and frozen food such as mysis, artemia, bosmids, cyclops and plankton. In addition, they need plenty of commercially available algae and kelp (e.g. nori, caulerpa, kelp) supplemented with high-quality flake or granulated food for herbivores, which is usually accepted after an acclimation period. The plant food strengthens their immune system and reduces aggression

It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day (3-5 times). Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They should be kept in pairs. Basically they are peaceful and can be well socialized in a coral reef aquarium with other fish. They can be very territorial towards same-sex conspecifics, other blennies and smaller gobies. Keeping several pairs is only recommended in a larger and richly structured tank.

Sex dimorphism

Males are usually larger than females and change coloration during the breeding season.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.

Important

Well-run coral aquariums with abundant small fauna provide optimal conditions for keeping them. They are well suited for biological algae control.

As coral reef dwellers, they should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium.

If different species are kept together, care should be taken to ensure that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: KUITER, DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; BAENSCH, PATZNER (1998): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 7, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

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