Bicolor Blenny

The Bicolor Blenny is a charming and widely kept combtooth blenny that derives its name from its distinctive two-tone coloration: a dark brown to dusky blue-black anterior half transitions abruptly into a bright orange to rusty-red posterior half. This clean bicolored pattern, combined with its expressive, high-set eyes and the characteristically impish blenny facial features complete with fringed cirri above the eyes, gives the Bicolor Blenny an endearing personality that quickly wins over aquarists.

In the wild, the Bicolor Blenny is found throughout the Indo-Pacific on coral reefs and rubble zones, where it perches on rock surfaces and darts between crevices while grazing on microalgae. Like other members of the genus Ecsenius, it is primarily an herbivore that uses its comblike teeth to scrape algae from hard surfaces. In the aquarium, this natural grazing behavior makes the Bicolor Blenny a useful, if modest, contributor to algae control on live rock and glass surfaces. It will establish a favorite perching spot, typically a hole or crevice in the rockwork, from which it surveys its territory with alert, swiveling eyes.

The Bicolor Blenny is an excellent beginner fish that is hardy, disease-resistant, and readily available at affordable prices. It adapts quickly to aquarium life and will soon accept a variety of prepared foods in addition to its natural algae diet. However, aquarists should be aware that some individuals may occasionally nip at the mantles of large-polyp stony corals or clam mantles, particularly if underfed. Keeping the fish well-fed with vegetable-rich foods minimizes this risk. The Bicolor Blenny's combination of personality, utility as an algae grazer, and ease of care make it one of the most popular blennies in the hobby.