Home · Blenniidae · Midas blenny
Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) — Blenniidae

Midas blenny

Ecsenius midas
Family: Blenniidae

The Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–40.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Midas blenny is a small combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 13 cm and has an elongate, scaleless body with a blunt head. It has a golden-yellow, slender body and a forked tail and swims among schools of fusiliers, which it mimics. As a bottom-dweller it perches on coral and rocky reefs, shelters in empty worm tubes and rasps algae and growth with comb-like teeth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Midas blenny?

The Midas blenny has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Midas blenny live?

The Midas blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Midas blenny get?

The Midas blenny grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Midas blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Midas blenny is harmless to humans.

Is the Midas blenny edible?

Yes, the Midas blenny is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Midas-slijmvis sourced
English name
Midas blenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius midas
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Golden blenny; Lyretail blenny; Lyre-tail comb-tooth; Lyre-tail combtooth-blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Ecsenius

More from the family Blenniidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →