Red Sea mimic blenny
Ecsenius gravieri
Also known as Gravier's Blenny, Mimic Blenny, Red Sea Mimic Combtooth Blenny
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 3.1 in
- 8 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 with caution
- Family
- Blenniidae
- Origin
- Endemic to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, grazing algae from hard reef surfaces on coastal reefs.
Overview
A 75 litre or larger tank with mature live rock suits it, kept at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4. It is reef safe with caution, since it may nip small polyp stony corals and clam mantles. Offer plenty of algae and vegetable based foods along with small meaty items, since it grazes for much of the day. It is peaceful and generally keeps to itself in the tank.
In the wild
The Red Sea mimic blenny has a blue front, a yellow rear, and a dark stripe through the eye. It perches on rock and coral, hopping about to graze film algae. Its color pattern closely copies the venomous blackline fang blenny that shares its range. Predators that have learned to avoid the fang blenny leave the harmless mimic alone.
Good to know
Ecsenius gravieri is a combtooth blenny in the family Blenniidae, endemic to the Red Sea region. It is a textbook case of Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species copies a dangerous one for protection. Its model, Meiacanthus nigrolineatus, has a venomous bite that this blenny lacks.
Did you know
Its disguise is so good that it copies not just the colors but also the swimming style of the venomous blenny it imitates.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Red Sea mimic 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.
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Fighting conch
Strombus alatus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Yellow cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus luteus
Saltwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)
Pearly jawfish
Opistognathus aurifrons
Saltwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Harlequin shrimp
Hymenocera picta
Saltwater2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Ring cowrie
Monetaria annulus
Saltwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Red Sea mimic blenny need?
A Red Sea mimic blenny needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Red Sea mimic blenny need?
A Red Sea mimic blenny is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Red Sea mimic blenny get?
An adult Red Sea mimic blenny reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).
Related species
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)
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)
2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Pictus blenny
Ecsenius pictus
2 in (5 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)
3 in (7.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Flametail blenny
Enchelyurus flavipes
3 in (7.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)