Klauswitz's Blenny (Ecsenius Lineatus)

Also Known As: Klausewitz's Blenny, Linear Blenny

Compatibility and Behavior
The Klauswitz's Blenny (Ecsenius lineatus) sports a sharp half-and-half look: a rich brown to near-black dorsal half sitting over a crisp white belly, often accented by a fine pale or yellowish line tracing the flanks. That crisp two-tone body, along with big eyes and a habit of perching high on the rockwork, gives it a watchful, sentinel-like presence in the reef. It's generally peaceful and reef safe, spending its day hopping between ledges and grazing natural film and microalgae. Like the other perching blennies, it can get territorial toward other blennies or similarly shaped rock perchers it sees as rivals, so it's best kept as the only Ecsenius-type blenny in the system. Most aquarists report excellent behavior around corals, though the occasional individual may nip SPS polyps or bases when underfed or housed in a lightly stocked, SPS-dominant tank, so it's worth watching interactions if you keep small Acropora or Montipora frags.

Aquarium Requirements
This is a nano-friendly grazer that does best in a mature tank around 20 to 30 gallons or larger with abundant live rock for grazing, perching, and hiding.  Because it browses much of the day, a healthy growth of natural microalgae and biofilm on the rock is ideal, but as with all the grazing blennies it should still get regular algae-based prepared foods rather than being left to rely on tank growth alone. A tight-fitting lid or mesh top is important, since blennies are surprisingly capable jumpers, especially when startled or chased. Stable reef-quality water, moderate flow, and a calm community round it out and bring out its best color and personality. Supplement its grazing with spirulina-rich flakes and pellets, nori or marine algae sheets, and the occasional small meaty food like mysis or brine.

Specifications
Approximate Size: 0.75–1.5"
Diet: Herbivore; grazes microalgae and film algae on rock, supplemented with spirulina-rich flakes and pellets, nori or marine algae sheets, and occasional small meaty foods such as mysis or brine shrimp
Origin: Indo-West Pacific
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Special Considerations: Grazes on natural algae and biofilm, so it does best in an established tank with regular supplemental algae-based feeding; may nip small SPS colonies when underfed in lightly stocked, SPS-dominant systems, so watch it around small Acropora and Montipora; best kept as the only Ecsenius-type blenny; a capable jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is recommended