Leopard Blenny EXPERT (Exallias Brevis)

Also Known As: Red Sailfin Blenny, Leopard Rockskipper, Honeycomb Blenny

Compatibility and Behavior
The Leopard Blenny (Exallias brevis) is an unbelievably gorgeous fish with a hard truth attached, so let's lead with the truth: this is an obligate corallivore, a fish that naturally feeds on the polyps and mucus of stony corals like Acropora, Pocillopora, Porites, and Millepora. That makes it not reef safe, and is strictly an expert-only animal for mature systems with an ongoing supply of coral to munch on. What you're keeping is undeniably beautiful: a stocky, compressed body in cream to white, blanketed in dense spots that deepen to reddish-brown or purple toward the head, with a fringe of cirri across the nape and a branched tentacle over each eye. Males intensify into vivid red spotting with red dorsal and caudal fins in breeding season. It's peaceful toward unrelated species but grows territorial with age, particularly toward similarly shaped fish like gobies, dartfish, and other blennies, so keep it as the only blenny in the tank.

Aquarium Requirements
Everything here is built around that coral diet. Sustaining this fish long-term can often mean an ongoing supply of sacrificial SPS for it to graze on. Give it a well-established tank of at least 50 to 75 gallons with abundant live rock offering caves and crevices, since it can be shy and territorial around its chosen retreat. Pristine, stable water at SPS-level parameters serves double duty here, keeping both the blenny and the coral colonies it depends on healthy. A tight-fitting, gap-free lid is a wise precaution, since blennies are known to jump, especially during acclimation. Some individuals eventually accept enriched mysis, frozen herbivore preparations, or specialty coral foods, so it's worth offering small amounts several times a day alongside the coral feeding, though success varies a lot from fish to fish.

Specifications
Approximate Size: 2.5–4.5"
Diet: Obligate corallivore; feeds on stony coral polyps and mucus, may occasionally accept mysis shrimp or specialty coral foods
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Expert only
Reef Safe: No
Temperament: Peaceful toward unrelated species, but territorial with age
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Special Considerations: An obligate coral feeder that eats SPS and other stony coral polyps, making it not reef safe and expert-only; typically requires an ongoing supply of sacrificial coral frags and may starve without a live coral diet; can be territorial with age, so best kept as the only blenny; can jump, so a tight-fitting lid is recommended