species ID     12/27/14 <My guess is on Ecsenius namiyei. Bob Fenner>

Re: species ID     12/27/14 Thanks <Welcome> Hitchhiked on live rock, never see it eating but appears happy and fat. <A lucky haul!> Maybe eating Copepods but new tank ( 5 months ) worried he may deplete any supply from rock eventually. <The genus are broad consumers on many types of fare. BobF>

Breeding blennies 2/13/12
Hello WWM Crew :) My name is Kate. At the urging of my LFS manager, I have been doing some research, because my blennies have spawned in my 120g reef system. One of the proud parents (dad I believe) was purchased as a Tribal Blenny, which I have seen listed online as both Atrosalarias sp and Ecsenius sp. Can you tell me which is correct?
<I too have seen this fish/species attributed to both genera. Fishbase.org does not have it in either genus... the head, dorsal fin (being singular) to me appears more like Atrosalarias>
The other proud parent is a Bicolor Blenny, which is definitely Ecsenius, yes?
<Yes; as far as common names go, matching up sometimes w/ scientific>
 First, if the Tribal Blenny is Atrosalarias sp, could it reproduce with a Bicolor Blenny?
<Not as far as I'm aware, no>
 If not, then I believe mine to be a Black Combtooth Blenny (Ecsenius namiyei), which could reproduce with a Bicolor Blenny, yes?
<I don't know if this is possible either>
 Second, is this a rare event?
<Mmm, first time I've read of it>
 I read "not recorded in captivity" in regards to breeding Bicolor Blennies.  Third, will this pairing produce a bunch of "mystery blennies"?
<Don't know what you mean>
 The manager of my LFS stopped by my home to observe the fry and suggested that I find a quality forum to post this information to. I am quite excited and having a ball observing the goings on in my aquarium. So, even if it is not a big deal to the world of aquaria, I'm still thrilled! I have 3 large barnacle clusters where the fry seem to find plenty of shelter and lots of copepods. They are also found bottom dwelling and among the rocks. They are at least 3 weeks old, and appear to be very active and thriving. I don't think it will be possible to remove the fry to another system, so I'm not sure how many, if any, will ultimately survive. Other tank inhabitants include: Regal Tang, Yellow Tang, a mated pair of Ocellaris Clownfish (initially suspected parents) with Bubble Tip Anemone, Flame Angel, Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp, Scooter Blenny, various members of the clean up crew, and soft corals. Thank you for your time, Kate.
<Thank you for your report. Please do follow up in time w/ photos of all.
Bob Fenner>
Re: Breeding blennies, Tribal ID     2/15.12
Hello Bob and WWM Crew, Thanks for responding to my questions. I have an update and need to clarify one of my earlier questions.  So, I have a Bicolor Blenny whose scientific name is Ecsenius Bicolor. I also have a fish
that was purchased as a Tribal Blenny, and I'm not really sure of its scientific name. 
<Am glad you've written back. Yesterday I was up visiting friends in the wholesale trade and spoke w/ Robert at Quality Marine. They have this fish listed as Ecsenius namiyei>
These two have definitely reproduced in my 120g reef tank.
Can fish of a different genus reproduce?
<Mmm, strictly speaking this is rare... Do consider that species and genera are human constructs... change-able; and that there are variations/extents of species distinctness... IT may be that these two Ecsenius species are "close enough" genetically to inter-breed>
 Is it more likely that I have a Bicolor Blenny and a Black Combtooth Blenny, since they are both Ecsenius?
I also asked earlier whether the offspring produced will be "mystery blennies".  I have seen some fish labeled as "mystery blenny",
<Oh! This is most often just a label applied to species unknown... a dative case for the trade for species no one can easily identify... sort of like "Miscellaneous">
 and am just not sure what that means. As of yet, I have not photographed the fry, at least not very well. My LFS suggested siphoning some out into a glass to get pictures, which I may do when they are a little bigger. Here's the update:
they are at it again, spawning.  I now know the "Tribal Blenny" to be the female, and the Bicolor Blenny to be the male.  I have attached a link to a video (I hope that is OK).
<Certainly>
   Can you help me identify the female? I have had some communication with Fishbase as well.  It's quite exciting!  Thanks for your time, and forgive the Coralline Algae and the Scooter Blenny for interfering with the video, haha. Here is the link
http://youtu.be/RJf8_CrMMzI  Kate :)
<I cannot sex these fishes externally. BobF>

Midas Blenny Dear Mr. Fenner, So, how can I determine which specimen that I have? Does it possibly just need more time? The fish is about 3 1/2 in. long now, could it just not be  a mature specimen? Also, How am I suppose to know that the fish that I am receiving does not look anything like the fish in the picture before I  purchase it? Is this an isolated incident for this specimen? Or is it possible for me to order a Purple Tang and receive a modeled brown on? At 3 plus inches this is a mature individual... and it may well be a/the species Ecsenius midas... and may still change color... There is a large amount of variability in the color/markings of this blenny... For what it's worth, the Purple Tang is a much more "standard" color/markings species. Bob Fenner> > Dear Mr. Fenner, > Last week I purchased a Midas blenny from FFExpress. When he arrived he was a dull brown color with light colored patches all over him. The first > day all he did was swim into the power head, and by the next day he had developed a white fleshy looking patch that covered half of his left > pectoral fin. He is now quite established to the aquarium, finding himself a hole to live in, eating, and no longer swimming into the power head, and > the white patch is about half the size that it was. However he is still a brown - white modeled color and he still has the fleshy looking thing on  > his pectoral fin. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do? The patch on his fin has not shrunk any in the last few days and he does not appear > to be coloring at all. > Thanks, > Bryan Hunt > Hmm, I'm wondering first off about the coloration of this Midas Blenny...  there is a wide range in the species Ecsenius midas...(most are yellow, > orangish... with white banding posteriorly, underneath...) but there are also a bunch of other Ecsenius blennies... The initial behavior is nothing to be > concerned about... just a bit of acclimating to new conditions, shipping stress... And the patch on the pectoral could be resultant to a small, simple > injury... and should clear of its own accord... The color though... may be the actual permanent one of this specimen/species... > Bob Fenner

Carnivore Bi-Color Blenny I recently acquired a bi-color blenny, and it was to my surprise and shock when I saw it eat live brine shrimp and squid flesh. I saw that others have posted accounts of blennies eating carnivore flakes, but none that would eat flesh. Is there any fish that may mimic a bi-color blenny? I'm wondering if I have the real deal.  <Erik, you have the real deal. James (Salty Dog)> Thanks again, Erik Cornelissen 

Re: Carnivore Bi-Color Blenny Bi-Color Blenny Thanks James. Does this imply that some blennies are omnivores, contrary to what is commonly thought, or that they simply eat flesh in new surroundings or under special conditions?  <Erik, all fish will eat meat. Take a tang for instance or a Sailfin Blenny known to be algae eaters. That is a preference, but they will eat other foods readily. James (Salty Dog)>