Pictus Blenny
Ecsenius pictus
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 1.25 - 2.25" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $151.99.$79.99Current price is: $79.99. | Email me |
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Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Algae Control |
| Diet Type | Herbivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 30 gallons |
| Max Size | 2 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Pictus Blenny (Ecsenius pictus) is a reef-safe algae grazer that spends its day working across rock surfaces and short turf algae. It typically shows a dark body with thin light lines and distinct banding near the tail, and it adds constant “perch-to-perch” movement to nano and midsize reef tanks.
What You’ll Observe:
- Picking and grazing in small passes across live rock, then returning to a favorite ledge
- Quick darts between crevices, with frequent “perching” to watch the tank
- Most activity during the light cycle, especially around feeding time
- A consistent home spot in the rockwork that it uses as a base
- Occasional short displays toward similarly shaped fish that approach its perch
Provide plenty of rock with cracks and small overhangs so it can perch, graze, and settle in. Offer algae-based foods (nori, spirulina flakes/pellets) alongside a mixed frozen option so it stays engaged and maintains steady body condition. In a stable reef with regular feeding, it becomes a visible, day-to-day “worker” fish you’ll notice often.
Do Pictus Blennies “sit” on rocks because something is wrong?
This is typical blenny behavior’they spend a lot of time perched and making short dashes instead of cruising the water column.
Do I need a lid or mesh top?
A tight-fitting lid (or mesh screen) helps because they can launch upward during quick dashes, especially when startled.
Why does it sometimes test-bite a new frag right after I place it?
Many blennies investigate surfaces while grazing; a brief sample can be normal. If it repeats on the same coral, relocating the frag and keeping more algae-based options available usually redirects attention.
Can I keep it with another blenny long-term?
Often it does best as the only “perching blenny” in the tank; mixing with very similar blennies can lead to regular posturing. If you try a second, using different niches and multiple perches helps spread out attention.
My blenny looks unusually round after meals’normal?
A fuller belly right after feeding can be normal, but long-term “thick” body shape is usually improved by keeping the menu mostly algae-based with meaty foods as a smaller portion.
We source from vetted suppliers known for healthy, long-lived specimens.
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