Encyclopaedia
One-eyed Blenny
Ecsenius monoculus
A charming micro-blenny featuring a dark spot behind the eye resembling a monocle, excellent algae eater.
- Family
- Blenniidae
- Origin
- Pacifico occidentale: Filippine, Indonesia, Palau e Australia settentrionale.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsSouth and Southeast AsiaAustralia, New Guinea, and Oceania
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
23 °C - 27 °C
8.1 - 8.4
Marine
Bottom
5.5 cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Tropical Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, and northern Australia. Inhabits shallow rocky reefs and rubble flats from 1 to 10 meters.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Blenniidae. Slender, scaleless body with large mobile eyes. Reaches a maximum length of 5.5 cm.
Social Behavior: Peaceful with open-water fish. Benthic dweller that hops from rock to rock grazing on algae. Territorial toward conspecifics.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Pale brownish-grey body with dark dorsal spots and a distinct, large circular black mark behind the eye (hence monoculus). No sexual dimorphism.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Suitable for setups of at least 60 liters. Provide ample rockwork with algae growth for grazing. A secure lid is essential.
Diet and Feeding: Herbivorous. Primarily feeds on benthic microalgae and detritus. Supplement with spirulina flakes, sheets of nori, and sinking pellets.
Water Quality: Keep reef parameters stable: temperature 23-27 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.020-1.025. Standard reef filtration.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Peaceful with open-water species. Do not keep with other Ecsenius species or territorial blennies unless the tank is large.
Aquarium Breeding: Lays eggs in small crevices. The male guards the nest. Captive larval rearing is extremely difficult.
Risks and Diseases: Starvation in newly set up tanks. Highly prone to jumping when startled.
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Pacifico
- Diet
- Erbivoro
- Tank level
- Bottom
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank volume
- 60 L
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- 8 dKH - 12 dKH
- TDS
- n/a
- Conductivity
- n/a
- Sex ratio
- Singolo o Coppia
- Feeding frequency
- 2 volte al giorno
- Bioload
- Low
- Flow
- Moderato
- Jump risk
- Covered tank required
- Reproduction
- La femmina depone uova adesive all'interno di piccoli anfratti rocciosi. Il maschio si occupa della guardia.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Pacifico con altre specie. Può combattere con conspecifici o altri blennidi del genere Ecsenius.
Ecological Estimates & Biological Models
- Trophic level
- 2 ± 0 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.00776, b = 3
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Other recommended species with similar care requirements and water parameters.
