All fish / Blenniidae

Tail-spot Blenny

Ecsenius stigmatura

Also known as tailspot blenny, tail spot blenny, eyelash blenny, stigmatura blenny, tail-spot combtooth blenny, 尾斑异齿鳚

A small combtooth blenny with a darker front half shading to a pale or yellowish rear, plus a dark spot near the tail base. It perches on rocks with an inquisitive face and comical behaviour, and helps graze film algae, making it a popular reef-safe choice for nano and community reefs.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

75 litres

Keep as

Singly, or a mated pair in a larger tank

Diet

Omnivore: grazes algae and biofilm; offer mysis, frozen brine shrimp, spirulina-enriched foods and quality flakes

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and nearby reefs

Breeding

It lays adhesive eggs in a rock crevice or shell, and the male guards them until they hatch. The tiny pelagic larvae are very hard to rear, so captive breeding is rare.

Good to know

May squabble with other blennies or similarly shaped bottom-dwellers, so keep only one unless the tank is large. Can jump, so use a tight lid.