Tailspot Blenny

The tailspot blenny is recognized by its gray-blue head, its slender elongated body that shifts from gray to orange-brown, and the distinct black spot at the base of the tail fin; its eye is yellow and a thin yellow line runs below it. It reaches only 6 cm. In the wild it lives in coastal lagoons and sheltered reefs, alone or in small groups, perched on rocks and corals. It feeds mainly on algae and the fine film on rock surfaces. It belongs to the same genus as the bicolor and midas blennies, which have their own pages on the site, but it is smaller and calmer than they are.

• At least 75 liters; a mature aquarium with plenty of live rock.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe: it leaves corals, shrimp and snails alone.
• Rock ledges to perch on and small holes where it can wait with its head poking out.
• Blennies may jump at night; a lid is recommended.

Herbivorous. It grazes the algae on the rocks; in addition, offer flake, granule and frozen foods containing spirulina and seaweed. In an aquarium with little algae, supplement with plant-based food twice a day; it also accepts mysis and brine shrimp.

Peaceful and curious; it watches its surroundings with its head poking out of its hole. It can be territorial towards its own species and similarly shaped blennies.

Good companions: Clownfish, cardinalfish, gobies, chromis, fairy wrasses, ornamental shrimp.

Avoid: Other Ecsenius blennies (in a small aquarium), dottybacks, hawkfish, tough damsels.