Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
The Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Midas Goby, Midas Cleaner Blenny, Yellow Blenny, Golden Midas Blenny, Lyretail Blenny, Persian Blenny or Yellowtail Blenny is is primarily found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Gulf of Aqaba and southeast coast of Africa, to the Marquesan Islands.
Its range includes the Red Sea, East Africa, Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles, Maldives, Andaman Islands, Philippines, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
Adult Midas Blennies are a peaceful species that are normally observed swimming 6 to 10 feet from the bottom in the clear coastal to outer coral reef walls of their range at depths to 98 feet, where the currents are moderate to heavy, feeding on plankton. They have a distinct eel like swimming motion that they can dispense with to mimic the swimming styles of other species they associate with.
The Midas Blenny can often be seen schooling with Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) during their orange yellow phase. They can quickly change color when on the bottom to swimming in open water to match the colors of the fish they mix with. as well as mimic their swimming behavior.
Midas Blennies are often found swimming with Threadfin Anthias (Pseudanthias huchtii) and Fusilier damselfish (Lepidozygus tapeinosomoa) feeding on zooplankton.
Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
The Midas Blenny has an elongated, golden orange, eel like body with a splash of blue under the chin and bright, blue rimmed eyes. They have a narrow dark margin on the anterior part of the dorsal fin and a black spot around the anus. Adults have long, flowing tails.
Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
There is an Indonesian form that has a gray to greenish golden yellow body color that is common to the area.
The Midas Blenny can be housed in a FOWLR or mature reef tank of at least 30 gallon capacity with a live sand substrate and plenty of live rock arranged into caves, crevices, ledges and overhangs for them to investigate and hide among. They will sift through the fine particles of live sand with their comb teeth to find micro fauna.
A tight tank cover is recommended to prevent them from jumping out of the tank when startled, and a power head for moderate water movement.
The Midas Blenny does well in a mature FOWLR aquarium with other peaceful species and is an excellent candidate for reef tanks. They will not bother corals or invertebrates.
Although they are generally non aggressive, they will nip at other gobies, firefish, and small planktivores when housed in smaller tanks. For two or more blennies, an aquarium of 90 gallons or more is recommended to minimize confrontations.
The Midas Blenny has been bred successfully in an aquarium environment.
The Midas Blenny typically engage in distinct pairing during the spawning process. During a brief courtship ritual, the male Midas Blenny will change its appearance dramatically by displaying vibrant colors to attract a mate. During the spawning process, the male and female will work together to select a suitable nesting area among the rocks in a crevice. The adhesive eggs are deposited in the nest attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal where the male guards them against potential threats. After a few days the eggs hatch out into small planktonic larvae that are often found in the shallow coastal waters of their range.
In an aquarium environment, the tiny fry should be removed to a rearing tank as soon as they are visible and fed with rotifers and phytoplankton. Daily 10% water changes are necessary until they grow out into juveniles.
In their natural environment, the Midas Blenny feeds on zooplankton. In an aquarium environment, the Midas Blenny requires a meaty diet that includes finely chopped crustacean flesh, Mysis and vitamin enriched brine shrimp, small pieces of fresh seafood, frozen herbivorous preparations, micro, and blue green algae.
The Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas) is widely available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as wild caught or captive bred specimens from a variety of online retailers, wholesalers, and transhippers at prices that vary on size and area of collection.
Prices for approximate purchase sizes: Medium: 1-3/4″ to 4″; Large: 4″ to 6″ vary from $ 69.99 for medium sized African specimens to over $130.00 for large specimens.
Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallon (90+ gallons for pairs)
Aquarium Type: FOWLR or Reef
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 73-82° F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 7.9-8.5, sg 1.020-1.027
Max size: 6″
Color Form: Blue, Yellow, Orange, Gray, Greenish Gold
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Reef Safe
Origin: Indo-Pacific Ocean, Africa, Indonesia, Fiji, Maldives, Red Sea
Family: Blenniidae
Lifespan: 5– 7 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner
