Collette's blenny
Ecsenius collettei
A charming marine combtooth blenny from the Western Pacific, beautifully marked with white stripes on a brown body, perfect for adding character to reef aquariums.
Wassertemperatur
22 - 26 °C
pH-Wert
8.1 - 8.4
Wassertyp
Meerwasser
Tankfüllstand
Unten
Erwachsenengröße
5 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 80 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 1
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat:
Ecsenius collettei is distributed in the Western Pacific, especially in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It lives on shallow coral reefs between 1 and 15 meters deep.
Taxonomy and Morphology:
Belongs to the Blenniidae family. It features an elongated, cylindrical, scaleless body. Eyes are large and mobile, and the mouth has comb-like teeth. Reaches about 5-6 cm.
Social Behavior:
A peaceful fish that is territorial only regarding its hiding spots. It spends the day perched on rocks, watching the tank. Shows aggression only towards similar blennies.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism:
Features a dark brown body on the upper half and lighter on the belly, decorated with thin longitudinal white stripes. No obvious sexual dimorphism is present.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup:
Ideal for nano reefs starting from 50-60 liters. Decorate the tank with plenty of live rock offering small holes and natural crevices for hiding and resting.
Diet and Feeding:
Herbivorous and detritivorous species. Feed dry and frozen foods based on Spirulina and Nori algae. Occasionally accepts small protein foods, but do not overfeed.
Water Quality:
Maintain stable water parameters: temperature 23-27 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, and specific gravity 1.020-1.025. Low nitrates and moderate water movement are recommended.
Compatibility and Cohabitation:
Completely reef safe. Coexists peacefully with clownfish, gobies, cardinalfish, and small wrasses. Avoid keeping with other blennies of the same genus.
Aquarium Breeding:
Breeding in the aquarium is extremely complex. They lay adhesive eggs in small cavities, guarded by the male. Pelagic larvae require live rotifers.
Risks and Diseases:
The primary risk is starvation in tanks that are too sterile or lack natural algae to graze. Cover the tank to prevent jumping out of the water.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Ecsenius collettei is distributed in the Western Pacific, especially in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It lives on shallow coral reefs between 1 and 15 meters deep.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und RiffeAfrika und MadagaskarAustralien, Neuguinea und Ozeanien
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Collette's blenny has a wonderfully peaceful and highly observant personality. They are known for backing into small holes with just their heads poking out, scanning the room like a periscope. They are generally bold and quickly learn to associate the aquarist with feeding time.
- Diät
- Herbivore
- Their diet in nature consists almost entirely of benthic microalgae and detritus. In the aquarium, provide them with high-quality spirulina flakes, algae sheets, and specialized herbivore pellets. Meaty foods should only be offered occasionally, as their digestive systems are optimized for plant matter.
- Lebenserwartung
- 3-5 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 5 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Solitary
- It is strongly advised to keep this species singly to avoid intense territorial aggression. Keeping multiple males together will usually result in fighting until only one remains. A known male-female pair can sometimes be kept successfully if the aquarium is large enough.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- Twice daily
- They are constant grazers, picking at the live rock all day to satiate their fast metabolism. Supplemental feeding should be provided once or twice a day to ensure well-rounded nutrition. Leaving a small portion of dried seaweed on a clip encourages natural grazing behaviors.
- Bioload
- Low
- Collette's blenny is a diminutive fish that produces an exceptionally light bioload. Standard protein skimming and weekly water changes are more than enough to handle its waste. It is a fantastic option for aquarists looking to add activity to a nano tank without compromising water quality.
- Fluss
- Moderate
- A moderate flow environment is highly recommended to stimulate the growth of microalgae. Good water circulation mimics the shallow reef environments they naturally prefer. They will use the rockwork to find sheltered areas if they need a break from the current.
- Sprungrisiko
- Yes
- Like other blennies, they are easily startled and have a high propensity for jumping. A secure, tight-fitting mesh top or glass canopy is absolutely required to prevent them from jumping out. Be mindful when working in the tank, as sudden hand movements can cause them to bolt upwards.
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- They are cave spawners, laying small adhesive egg masses in tight rock crevices. The male dutifully guards the eggs, aggressively chasing away potential predators until they hatch. Raising the planktonic fry requires incredibly small live foods and is rarely successful in a home aquarium.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- Reef safe
- It is completely reef safe and peaceful, completely ignoring corals and motile invertebrates. It does well with similarly peaceful fish like firefish, clownfish, and small wrasses. However, it may become fiercely territorial if housed with other blennies of similar size and shape.
- Tankfüllstand
- Bottom
- They are strictly bottom-dwelling fish that lack a swim bladder for sustained swimming. They spend their time perched on rocks, observing their surroundings, and hopping from place to place. The aquarium must have plenty of live rock with small holes for them to hide in.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase v25.04Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 2 ± 0 se
- Belastbarkeit
- Hoch (weniger als 15 Monate)
- Phylogenetische Einzigartigkeit (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayessche Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung
- a = 0.00776, b = 3
- AnfälligkeitGeringe Anfälligkeit (10 / 100)
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