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
- Diet
- Omnivore
- 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
The Red Sea mimic blenny is a small, harmless blenny that looks like a venomous one. It is easy to keep in a saltwater reef tank.
Did you know
The Red Sea mimic blenny's disguise copies not just the colors but also the swimming style of the venomous blenny it imitates.
Caring for the Red Sea mimic blenny
Keep the Red Sea mimic blenny in 20 gal (75 L) or more, with mature live rock. Hold the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
It perches on the rock and hops about to graze film algae for much of the day. Offer plenty of algae and vegetable-based foods along with small meaty items.
The Red Sea mimic blenny is peaceful and generally keeps to itself. It rates reef safe with caution, since it may nip small polyp stony corals and clam mantles.
Good to know
Ecsenius gravieri is a combtooth blenny in the family Blenniidae. It has a blue front, a yellow rear and a dark stripe through the eye. It is a textbook case of Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species copies a dangerous one for protection. Its model is the blackline fang blenny, Meiacanthus nigrolineatus, which has a venomous bite this blenny lacks. Predators that have learned to avoid the fang blenny leave the mimic alone.
In the wild
The Red Sea mimic blenny is endemic to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It lives on coastal reefs, grazing algae from hard surfaces, and shares them with the blackline fang blenny.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The 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.
Ocellaris clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Percula clownfish
Amphiprion percula
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Yellow watchman goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Saltwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 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)
Royal gramma
Gramma loreto
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°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.
What does a Red Sea mimic blenny eat?
A Red Sea mimic blenny eats plenty of algae and vegetable-based foods, along with small meaty items. It also grazes film algae on the rock for much of the day.
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)
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Ecsenius stigmatura
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Ecsenius pictus
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