{"product_id":"bicoloured-blenny","title":"Bicoloured Blenny | Ecsenius bicolor","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Bicoloured Blenny (Bicolor Blenny) is a peaceful, characterful little reef fish with a dark blue-brown front and a bright orange rear. It spends its day perching on the rocks and grazing algae, and it is full of personality, often becoming tame enough to watch the room from a favourite hole. A great, hardy choice for a mature reef.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the wild, the Bicoloured Blenny is associated with coral-rich reefs and rubble zones of the Indo-Pacific, where it perches on rock and darts between crevices, grazing algae and small invertebrates. Replicating this environment means providing a mature system with plenty of live rock, established algae films and secure holes and crevices for shelter. A settled aquarium with natural algae growth suits it best, as it relies on grazing surfaces and safe retreats.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Bicoloured Blenny has a dark blue to brown front half and an orange to red rear, large expressive eyes and the comb-like teeth typical of the genus. Males may intensify in colour during display. It reaches around 10 cm and has the tapering, perch-and-hop shape suited to rockwork rather than open swimming. Healthy specimens are alert, grazing actively and well-filled through the body, without a pinched or sunken belly, which can indicate insufficient food.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is best described as peaceful. It is a good community fish and safe with corals and ornamental invertebrates. It can be territorial towards other blennies or fish of very similar shape and feeding habits, particularly in smaller tanks. Suitable companions include clownfish, chromis, cardinalfish, gobies of different form, wrasses and other peaceful reef fish. Keep only one bicoloured blenny per tank unless the system is large, and avoid combining it with other small bottom-perching grazers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding centres on algae. It grazes film and filamentous algae from rock and glass, and in a mature tank much of its diet comes naturally. Supplement with dried marine algae and nori on a clip, algae-based flakes and pellets, and occasional small meaty foods such as mysis and brine shrimp. As with other grazing blennies, ensure the tank supplies enough algae or provide regular algae-based feeding, as these fish can slowly starve in a very clean system. Watch body condition and increase feeding if the belly looks pinched.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor long-term success, provide a minimum aquarium size of 110 L, with 150 L or larger recommended for a stable, algae-rich system. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Moderate water movement suits it. Lighting can be standard reef lighting, which supports the algae it grazes. Provide mature live rock with grazing surface, caves and perches. Strong filtration, protein skimming and regular water changes of 10–20% are recommended. A well-fitted lid is useful, as blennies can occasionally jump. This species is reef safe, though a hungry individual may occasionally pick at clam mantles or fleshy LPS, so keep it well fed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding in the home aquarium is uncommon. Blennies are substrate spawners, laying eggs in a crevice, shell or cave that the male guards. Spawning is sometimes seen in mature aquariums, but rearing the larvae is difficult and requires very small live foods and dedicated rearing systems beyond normal home aquarium keeping. For most keepers the focus should be on long-term health, adequate algae-based feeding, low stress and suitable tank mates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEcsenius bicolor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBicoloured Blenny (Bicolor Blenny)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific coral-rich reefs and rubble zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–6 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (territorial to similar blennies)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEasy to intermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e110 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore; grazes algae, plus algae-based prepared foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature reef aquariums with natural algae growth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include clownfish, chromis, cardinalfish, gobies of different body form, peaceful wrasses, dwarf angels and other calm reef fish, along with ornamental shrimp, snails and corals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with other bicoloured blennies in smaller tanks, other small bottom-perching grazers that compete for the same food, and large or aggressive fish that may bully it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234128183587,"sku":"AA1475","price":75.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234128216355,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234128249123,"sku":null,"price":85.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Bicolour_Blenny_Ecsenius_bicolor_a9a7ea75-a896-426a-8f79-ceb5ea2190f0.jpg?v=1781681146","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/bicoloured-blenny","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}