Just got Ocellate Eel Blenny from DD. Any info.

[Sigmund]

Just purchased the Ocellate Eel Blenny from Divers Den. Appears it is found in shallow waters around Australia. Says it has a peaceful temperament, not like the Green Wolf Blenny, plus only gets 5 inches. From what I was able to find out it eats small amphipods and crustaceans in the wild. I am going to put it in my 150 gallon reef which has lots of caves crevices and rock rubble above crushed coral.

Anyone have any info, or first had experience with these regarding feeding or temperament. Very little I could find through my normal searching sources.

 

[Sigmund]

Here is the picture if that helps. Perhaps others know this with a different common name. The Scientific name is Blennodesmus scapularis.

 

[Esage]

I was thinking about buying this yesterday, but I could not find any info online.

 

[Sigmund]

Esage,

Once I get it I will report some of my observations in case another becomes available and you are still interested. I generally do not purchase anything without having a good understanding what I am getting, but I have a set-up and tankmates that should be fine as long as it is not a holy terror. If that's the case I have a 30 gallon nano he will be designated to.

I am a big fan of anything that lives in holes, tubes, or just plain sneaks around in the tank. My biggest concern with the new guys would be my two blennies (Emerald and Pike) or my smaller Jawfish (Chinstrap). My Red-Devil jawfish does not take any hassle from anything, so I would assume he will be fine. DD reported it as "Peaceful" and in my tank nothing will bother it, if it doesn't bother them.

 

[Esage]

Esage,

Once I get it I will report some of my observations in case another becomes available and you are still interested. I generally do not purchase anything without having a good understanding what I am getting, but I have a set-up and tankmates that should be fine as long as it is not a holy terror. If that's the case I have a 30 gallon nano he will be designated to.

I am a big fan of anything that lives in holes, tubes, or just plain sneaks around in the tank. My biggest concern with the new guys would be my two blennies (Emerald and Pike) or my smaller Jawfish (Chinstrap). My Red-Devil jawfish does not take any hassle from anything, so I would assume he will be fine. DD reported it as "Peaceful" and in my tank nothing will bother it, if it doesn't bother them.

That would be great. It looks like a really interesting fish. Good Luck!

 

[Sigmund]

In my tank after a few days of quarantine. Fish is really interesting. Very aware, very smart, looks at you with a sense of intelligence that most reef fish do not have. Understood by the 2nd feeding that me tapping on the tank with the feeder cup means food, takes some of my fish a long time to pick up on that.

Slides through the rock work like an eel. Has taken primary residence in a foot and a half piece of rock that has cavities throughout it, pops his head out through a different hole every few minutes watching everything that is going on. So far no problems with any of the tankmates (fish or inverts). Ate from day 1, spirunlina and enriched brine shrimp. I will try to get a picture of him in the DT as soon as I get a chance.

 

[Esage]

How's this doing for you? I noticed they have another on DD

 

[Sigmund]

Doing great. He is now in my display tank and uses the whole tank as his playground. Weaves within the holes of the rock work like a worm in the dirt. He is now getting a little bolder and will come out of the rock work completely to eat.

He is in a tank with a lot of different tankmates (jawfish, small blennies, angels, anthias, hermit crabs, etc.) and has no issues with anyone. In fact he spends a good amount of time hanging out right next to one of my Jawfish, and they don't seem to mind each other at all. Definetely have a personality, very intelligent (for a reef fish).

I did see that there was another one on Divers Den, looked like a really nice one had stripes, where mine is pretty much a solid brown. Thought about getting it, but my experience on almost anything is two of the same on nearly anything tends to be a problem, and with almost no info on these guys, could be WWIII from the moment the 2nd one hits the water. Not worth the risk.

Here is a pic, it's like "Where's Waldo", with Ocellate Eel Blenny:

 

[SDguy]

Any other pics of yours? Seems I too maybe got one, but mine has yellow spots all over the body. Maybe an age thing?