Head to head
Midas Blenny vs Bicolor Blenny
The Midas blenny and bicolor blenny are both Indo-Pacific blennies in the genus Ecsenius, but they live completely different lives, one swimming boldly alongside the anthias it imitates, the other darting out of a small burrow to graze before retreating.
| Midas Blenny | Bicolor Blenny | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ecsenius midas | Ecsenius bicolor |
| Swimming style | Swims openly in the water column | Stays close to the reef floor |
| Shelter | Not burrow-bound; swims among anthias schools | A small burrow or an empty shell |
| Colouring | Orange like anthias, with yellow and blue-and-yellow forms | Dark front half, orange or tan rear half |
| Diet | Carnivore, zooplankton and small invertebrates | Omnivore, algae and small invertebrates |
| Territory | Not specifically documented | Defends its chosen shelter site |
| Native range | Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea | Indo-Pacific |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Midas Blenny vs Bicolor Blenny: common questions
Which blenny mimics another fish, the Midas blenny or the bicolor blenny?
The Midas blenny, which closely resembles the orange colouring and swimming behaviour of nearby anthias schools; the bicolor blenny instead shows its own clean split of dark front and orange rear.
Do the Midas blenny and bicolor blenny both live in burrows?
No, the bicolor blenny shelters in a small burrow or empty shell and darts out to feed, while the Midas blenny swims freely in open water alongside the anthias it resembles.
What do the Midas blenny and bicolor blenny eat?
The Midas blenny is a carnivore feeding on zooplankton and small invertebrates, while the bicolor blenny is an omnivore feeding on algae and small invertebrates.