Midas Blenny: A Guide to Care, Breeding, Diet & Behavior

By Alberto Roy

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The Midas Blenny is an excellent candidate for a reef storage tank. It is a lovely, deep golden-yellow with a shadow of blue under the chin as well as intense, blue-rimmed eyes. When swimming, the motion they utilize is really eel-like.

This blenny will certainly value a minimum tank of 30 gallons or bigger with countless rocks on which to perch. Often, the Midas Blenny will annoy small planktivores as well as has actually been recognized to nip at firefish as well as gobies.

Midas Blenny Fish Breed

Bigger tanks are advantageous as much of the Midas Blenny’s hostile actions attributes seem to associate with a confining container circumstance.

Unlike most blennies, the Midas Blenny requires a meaningful diet regimen consisting of carefully chopped shellfish flesh, mysis and also vitamin-enriched salt water shrimp, in addition to frozen herbivorous preparations, micro and blue algae.

The Midas Blenny is a deep sea aquarium fish that is best for medium-sized and even large-sized fish tanks. They are additionally known as the Gold or Lyretail Blenny, owing to their physical functions.

The fish comes from exotic regions of the Indo-Pacific area near eastern Africa and the Maldives, liking similar water problems. Owing to their relaxed temperament as well as simple care, they are great for starting fish tank fans.

With an all-natural environment that you ought to attempt to replicate in an aquarium, these stunning fish are an essential. They appear like gorgeous flecks of gold zooming around in your container. Their tranquil nature can be mirrored back to the viewer.

Midas Blenny: Ecsenius Midas

The Midas blenny, Ecsenius midas, is terrific novice fish for a medium-sized aquarium or bigger (about 20-30 gallons, or bigger) that are wanting to include a little Golden touch to their storage tanks. Let’s dive in to see what it requires to properly look after this stunning, gold fish in a saltwater fish tank

Care Overview

Like many fish in the fish tank profession, the Midas blenny originates from Indo-Pacific coral reefs.

Private specimens will show a coloration pattern somewhat unique for the area they originate from (or where the original adult broodstock came from. They are typically tranquil, with some reports of aggressiveness– which we will certainly define in even more information below.

Midas blenny facing left with solid history blur – Variant in shade across various people

It’s most likely not a surprise to you where Ecsenius midas, a.k.a. the Midas blenny obtains its name. Just have a look. They have a deep golden color, with noticeably lovely and dynamic blue accents around the eyes and also fins.

The shades of the private Midas blenny you obtain will certainly vary a little bit, depending on what part of the world it originates from.

Fishes from the Indian Sea and also the Red Sea are reported to have more dynamic shades than their fishy relatives from the Pacific.

Did you recognize that Midas blennies additionally alter shades when they are emphasized? Therefore, they can type of be taken into consideration canaries in your reef fish tank coal mine– a color modification might be your initial indicator of difficulty.

Diet regimen and also Feeding

The Midas blenny is an omnivore, which indicates it needs both weighty and also plant-based foods in its diet regimen to continue to be healthy, which is different from a lot of the other blennies, which frequently consume primarily plant-based foods. It is recommended, consequently to consist of prepared foods with algae ingredients– spirulina, Formula Two, etc.

They are normally energetic feeders, that will happily buy foods floating in the currents.

Appearance as well as Markings

The Midas Blenny is a stunning golden-yellow fish with a slight blue undertone near its chin. It has blue-rimmed gorgeous eyes.

It is very important to keep in mind that they have excellent adaptability and also have been observed to change their color to tones of brown and blue to match various other fish in their surroundings. Their color may likewise differ as a result of difficult conditions.

These fish have actually a lengthened body with translucent fins with touches of blue throughout. They can expand to an optimum dimension of 3 to 4 inches.

Life Expectancy

The Midas Blenny normally lives for 2 to 4 years. Nevertheless, they can live for roughly 5 years in a top quality environment. They need a safe environment for optimal life-span.

Habits as well as Temperament

The Midas Blenny likes to assert spaces within rocks and pick their location within a rock wall in your aquarium. It takes them a little time to get self-confidence, after which they become avid swimmers. Until after that, you can frequently observe them glancing from their hiding places.

With their active nature, these fish need open waters, and consequently, it is best to position them in a fish tank with a minimum of 30 gallons of water. Furthermore, they enjoy to perch on rocks; for that reason, you must have those too.

While otherwise a peaceful temperament, the Midas Blenny can in some cases become hostile if constrained to smaller sized rooms as well as might nip at other smaller sized fish types such as gobies. They can additionally reveal hostile behavior towards various other blennies. Therefore, think about your fish neighborhood before establishing the aquarium.

Food as well as Diet

The Golden or Midas Blenny is omnivorous and can thus be given a variety of food. From chopped flesh as well as vitamin-enriched food to freeze-dried worms as well as algae, they can have it all. In addition, they are rapid eaters that value food, whether icy or to life. For that reason, it is suggested that they are fed a few times throughout the day.

Water Conditions

The Midas Blenny has special requirements for water like any other fish. They like a slightly alkaline setting with a pH varying from 8.1 to 8.4. On top of that, owing to their origins and also natural habitat, they favor a warmer temperature of 72 ° -78 ° Fahrenheit.

These saltwater fish prefer a water hardness that should range from 8 to 12 dKH.

Look After Midas Blenny

The Midas Blenny is easy to deal with as they are not really prone to any type of diseases. Nevertheless, maintain them in a setting that is risk-free to prevent them from getting worried.

The aquarium needs to be tool to huge with adequate open water to permit the fish to swim about. This will certainly avoid them from feeling territorial with other fish as they already have enough space. On top of that, the fish should be given enough to consume, so they do not think they require to combat for food.

Additionally, a lot of rocks or preferably a rock wall surface need to be installed to permit it to have hiding rooms when required. This keeps them protected whenever they may really feel prone as well as safeguards them from stress.

They are coral reef suitable and can therefore be kept with reef invertebrates. Nevertheless, it is recommended to maintain them far from predators and not allow them to reside in the very same space.

They are also understood to be jumpers. For that reason, you require a fish tank with a tight-fitting cover that will avoid them from jumping out. Sadly, this is just one of the substantial causes of death for aquatic fish when bred commercially.

Breeding of Midas Blenny

The Midas Blenny is not typically readily reproduced and also is usually captured from the wild. Nonetheless, if they did companion in your aquarium as well as laid their eggs, there are a couple of preventative measures you could take.

When the eggs are laid, a regular behavior is for a man to protect them versus the several ladies in the cavern. The eggs are fertilized at different times, so the larvae should be gathered similarly. They require to be fed rotifers, salt water shrimp, and also planktons throughout as well as offered a continual nourishment supply.

With proper nutrition and also treatment, you can have a whole household of Midas Blenny in your storage tank!

Midas blenny head standing out from live rock

Feed your Midas blenny a few times a day (if you are residence) with brine shrimp, mysid shrimp, chopped up clams or mussels, and also algae-based foods having spirulina or various other vegetarian foods.

Are they hostile?

The Midas blenny is usually NOT aggressive. It is a relaxed neighborhood saltwater fish that does often tend to be compatible with a lot of the various other tropical reef deep sea fish. However, there are a few exceptions.

There are records of hostility between this types as well as either other blennies or some of the a lot more mild-mannered fish that are possibly competing for comparable planktonic foods, like Firefish or small gobies. However or else, they are usually a serene neighborhood aquarium fish.

The majority of the conversation around aggressiveness in Midas blennies additionally often tends to consist of the dimension of the fish tank as a possible variable, probably not surprisingly.

Because this is an or else serene fish, the tendency to be aggressive towards some may be linked to safeguarding their region and/or regarded food-source. If that holds true and also the root cause of the aggressiveness, the confines of a smaller coral reef container are likely to be a confounding or inflammatory element.

It is for that reason recommended to have additional treatment and also restraint in keeping the Midas blenny with other blennies or gobies if your container is on the smaller sized end of the scale.

Are Midas blennies coral reef risk-free?

The Midas blenny is a reef-safe deep sea fish that works with corals reefs, clams, various other invertebrates, as well as most various other community deep sea fish.

Midas blenny in a reef container with SPS coral in history

Keep in mind the gold color of the Midas blenny in a coral reef tank

Aquarium Conditions

The Gold blenny, Ecsenius midas, succeeds with the traditional reef fish tank water parameters.

Temperature level: 73-84 Fahrenheit (~ 22.8-28.8 Celcius).
pH: 8.1- 8.4.
Salinity: ~ 1.025.
Ammonia: 0 ppm.
Nitrates: 0 ppm.
Nitrites: 0 ppm.

Midas blenny and also xenia coral reefs.

This Midas blenny’s burrow is right next to xenia coral reefs.

Breeding of Midas Blenny Fishes.

Midas blennies are not (at the very least at the time of publication) listed as a fish that has actually been Captive-bred, but various other species within the genus have– which offers me wish that we are not that far from having actually commercially increased, Captive-bred Ecsenius midas readily available and also will no longer depend on wild-caught people.

At the same time, the reality that numerous other members of this genus have actually been reproduced, recommends there is something concerning the rearing of the larvae that evades us, a minimum of up until now.

Therefore, I will certainly share some general qualities associated with reproducing blennies, in the hopes that at some point quickly, one of you will do well as well as release your outcomes.

Blennies are demersal, hareem spawners– as well as a single man will nurture and also protect a batch of eggs from several women in a solitary cave. This produces the very first possibility challenge, and also possibility, for the potential pastime dog breeder.

If the eggs are laid as well as fertilized on different evenings, that means that they will certainly likewise hatch on correspondingly various nights.

That suggests you need to constantly accumulate the larvae and also make sure a constant supply of food: rotifers, copepods, brine shrimp, and also phytoplankton to feed the food cultures as well as enhance its nutritional value.

People are distinctly male or female, so getting a harem can be a little challenging, when compared to a few other saltwater aquarium fish, because the broodstock are so expensive as well as 2 men will certainly be inappropriate.

Ecsenius midas in a large deep sea fish tank.

If you have had any kind of success pairing, spawning or reproducing the Midas blenny, please share your experiences by leaving a remark listed below.

Exactly how big do Midas blennies get?

Reports vary concerning just how big these fish can get, from just under 4 inches in some extremely trusted publications (Michael 2001) to approximately 6-inches on some similarly trusted websites that specialize in supplying aquatic life for the house aquarium.

Are Midas blennies energetic?

Midas blennies are active swimmers that will certainly add a pop of color as well as energy to a saltwater storage tank. Their confident, continuous swimming might additionally make shy fish more comfortable.

Please have a tight-fitting lid.

If you want to maintain the Midas blenny in your saltwater fish tank, be sure to have a tight-fitting lid or screen due to the fact that they are prone to jump out and try to browse on your rug. While that may sound trendy, it is not. Carpeting surfing is the # 1 root cause of surfing-related deaths in aquatic fish.

If you are just starting, you can learn exactly how to set up a deep sea fish tank here.

Aquarium Aquascaping.

Midas bennies are timid fish that require a fair amount of live rock aquascape to feel safe. They will certainly perch on the live rock and also even hide inside the crevices, glimpsing out from their hiding area waiting on a meal to float past.

Among one of the most interesting actions to enjoy is when a Midas blenny swims backward to back up right into the rock job. That trick deserves the rate of admission.

Ecsenius midas is likewise coral reef safe as well as won’t harm your corals or various other invertebrates.

Verdict

The Midas Blenny is a calm fish with a calm character. However, it is prone to aggressiveness when restricted to a tiny room or made vulnerable. As a result, monitor all the requirements it needs, such as a rock wall surface with sufficient hiding rooms to feel secure.

While they may alter their shades to adapt to their surroundings, it might generally be due to anxiety as well as is often taken into consideration an indicator of trouble in smaller aquariums.

The fish is or else a remarkable shade as well as adds flecks of gold to your fish tank. It is lovely to see these energetic swimmers dashing around in open waters.

The Midas Blenny requires little treatment as long as you make sure that the atmosphere you give them is adequate and according to their all-natural habitat.

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