© Julien Bidet / CC BY-SA 4.0Midas Blenny
The Midas Blenny is a mid-sized blenny known for its glowing golden body and striking blue-rimmed eyes. Unlike most blennies, it swims in open water with an eel-like undulating motion, often mixing in with schools of anthias and shifting its coloration to blend in — a mimicry behavior that makes it especially fun to watch. It's a hardy fish that adapts well to aquarium life, making it a solid choice for beginners, and it generally leaves corals alone in a reef tank. One thing to watch for: although it is generally peaceful, it may nip at small plankton-feeding fish such as gobies, and aggression is more likely in a cramped tank, so choose tankmates and tank size carefully.
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Apply as a breederMidas Blenny key facts
- Care level
- Beginner-friendly
- Lifespan
- 3-6 years
- Size
- Up to about 13cm
- Temperature
- 22〜26℃
- Diet
- Frozen mysis, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, chopped crustacean meat, herbivore preparations with algae
- Notes
- Scaleless, so water-quality problems affect it directly through the skin. Keep conditions stable.
- Container & Tank
- 114 L or larger with numerous rocks to perch on. Aggression is less likely in a roomier tank.
- Water Temperature & Quality
- 22-26 C, pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025.
- Diet & Feeding
- Omnivore with a strong meaty component. Chopped crustacean meat, frozen mysis and brine shrimp plus herbivore preparations with algae.
- Tank Mates & Compatibility
- Generally peaceful, but may nip at firefish, small gobies and other small planktivores.
About Midas Blenny
The Midas Blenny is a golden, blue-eyed reef fish known for mimicking schools of anthias. Hardy and beginner-friendly, it suits most reef tanks and grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.
7 things to know before welcoming a Midas Blenny
1Eel-Like Swimming & Mimicry
Unlike most blennies that perch on rocks, the Midas Blenny swims freely in open water with an eel-like undulating motion. It's known for mingling with schools of anthias, imitating their coloration and swimming style to blend in.
2Hardy and Beginner-Friendly
The Midas Blenny is hardy and easy to keep, but it has no scales, so changes in water quality affect its skin directly. Keeping the water stable is important. It's often recommended as one of the easier saltwater fish to start with.
3Reef-Safe Nature
The Midas Blenny generally leaves corals and other invertebrates alone, making it a solid choice for reef aquariums. This reef-safe reputation is one reason it's popular among reef keepers.
4Caution With Small Gobies
Midas Blennies are generally peaceful, but they may harass small plankton-feeding gobies such as dartfish sharing their tank. Aggression is more likely in a cramped tank, so provide a larger tank, and either avoid pairing them with gobies or provide plenty of hiding spots to reduce conflict.
5Grows to About 13 cm
Adults reach a maximum size of around 13 cm. Since they're active swimmers, choose a tank with enough length and open swimming space for them to move comfortably.
6Provide Rockwork to Hide In
Arrange live rock with crevices and small caves so the fish has somewhere to retreat when startled or resting. Having multiple hiding spots helps reduce stress in the aquarium.
7Acclimate Carefully at Introduction
When introducing a new Midas Blenny to your tank, take time with drip acclimation to avoid sudden changes in temperature or water chemistry. Afterward, keep an eye on its appetite and swimming behavior to catch any early signs of stress.
Frequently asked questions about Midas Blenny
- Q.Is the Midas Blenny suitable for beginners?
- A.Yes, it's considered hardy and adaptable, making it a popular choice for those new to saltwater fishkeeping. Consistent basic water quality care is generally enough to keep it healthy.
- Q.Is it safe to keep in a coral reef tank?
- A.Yes, it rarely bothers corals and is generally considered reef-safe. It also tends to get along well with other invertebrates in the tank.
- Q.How big does the Midas Blenny get?
- A.It grows to a maximum of about 13 cm as an adult. Since it's an active swimmer, a tank with reasonable open swimming space is recommended.
- Q.Can it be kept with other fish?
- A.It generally coexists well with many tankmates, but it may nip at small plankton-feeding fish such as gobies and dartfish. Consider tankmate compatibility carefully before adding it to a community tank.
- Q.Does its color really change?
- A.Yes — it's known to mingle with schools of anthias, imitating their coloration and swimming style to blend in.
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Care difficulty, lifespan, size and diet — all basics covered.
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