Pictus blenny
Ecsenius pictus
Also known as White-Lined Comb-Tooth Blenny, Painted Blenny, Pictus Coralblenny, Painted Combtooth Blenny
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Blenniidae
- Origin
- Found in the western Pacific around the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands, along outer reef walls with rich coral growth.
Overview
A 75 litre or larger reef tank at 23 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 with mature live rock suits it best. It is generally reef safe, though it may occasionally nip at clam mantles. Offer a mixed diet of algae, spirulina, and small meaty foods, and let it graze the rockwork. It is peaceful and full of character, but keep only one per tank unless the tank is large, since they squabble with their own kind.
In the wild
The pictus blenny is a tiny combtooth blenny that perches on rock and coral, hopping from spot to spot. Its brown body is marked with rows of white and blue dots along dark stripes. It grazes film algae and detritus from hard surfaces. A rocky tank with lots of perches and grazing surface keeps it happy.
Good to know
Ecsenius pictus is a combtooth blenny in the family Blenniidae, and its name means painted in Latin. Combtooth blennies use rows of fine teeth to scrape algae off rock. It reaches only about 5 cm, which makes it a good fit for small reef tanks.
Did you know
Despite its small size it has a big personality and often perches out in the open watching the room rather than hiding.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Pictus blenny is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Pajama cardinalfish
Sphaeramia nematoptera
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Fire shrimp
Lysmata debelius
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Tiger / strawberry conch
Conomurex luhuanus
Saltwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Skilletfish
Gobiesox strumosus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (76 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Percula clownfish
Amphiprion percula
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Camel / dancing shrimp
Rhynchocinetes durbanensis
Saltwater2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Pictus blenny need?
A Pictus blenny needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Pictus blenny need?
A Pictus blenny is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Pictus blenny get?
An adult Pictus blenny reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Tailspot blenny
Ecsenius stigmatura
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Red Sea mimic blenny
Ecsenius gravieri
3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Lined blenny
Ecsenius lineatus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Bicolor blenny
Ecsenius bicolor
3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Midas blenny
Ecsenius midas
5.1 in (13 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Tessellated blenny
Hypsoblennius invemar
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)