Yaeyama Blenny (Ecsenius yaeyamaensis) Care Guide
Ecsenius yaeyamaensis is a small Indo-West Pacific combtooth blenny that grazes algae on shallow coastal reefs.
Overview
Ecsenius yaeyamaensis (Aoyagi, 1954) is a small combtooth blenny of the family Blenniidae, described from the Yaeyama Islands of southern Japan. According to FishBase it reaches about 6 cm in total length and is widely distributed across shallow coastal reefs of the Indo-West Pacific. It is an algae grazer that lives close to rock and living coral.
Taxonomy
- Family: Blenniidae
- Genus: Ecsenius
- Scientific name: Ecsenius yaeyamaensis (Aoyagi, 1954)
Habitat
FishBase records this species from the Indo-West Pacific, from Sri Lanka to Vanuatu, north to Taiwan and the Yaeyama Islands, and south to the southern Great Barrier Reef. It is a common inhabitant of coastal and inner reef crests with rich coral growth, where adults occur singly or in small groups over boulder and rubble substrates at depths of 0 to 15 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (about 21 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness range (record): 8-12 °dGH
- Lifespan: 3-8 years (KB record)
Diet
FishBase and Wikipedia describe the species as herbivorous, feeding primarily on benthic algae and other plant material scraped from rock and coral surfaces. In aquaria a diet rich in marine algae and herbivore preparations supports this grazing behaviour.
Compatibility
It is a peaceful, bottom-associated fish that spends most of its time perched on rock and substrate. Suitable companions include clownfish, tangs, cardinalfish and wrasses, while large aggressive predators such as lionfish and triggers should be avoided.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2009. The species is taken for both commercial fisheries and the marine aquarium trade.