Midas Blenny turned dark purple

[justthewife]

When we first got our Golden Midas Blenny, he was bright yellow. We have had him quite a while now (at least a year)and he is now darker purple in color. He swims around with the other fish, he has two or three holes in the live rock that he hides in at times and a perch that he makes sure no one else sits on, he eats when everyone else eats. No one seems to be bothering him but I have seen him go in protect his territory mode at times with the other fish when they just swim by. His tank mates are two clowns that stay on the other side of the tank, a blue chromi, two pajama cardinals, a bangai cardinal, a splendid dottyback, a six line wrasse, a falco hawkfish and a banded coral shrimp. It's a 90 gallon tank with corals.

I have heard they change to this color when they are stressed. So if that is true he has been stressed for some time now since he changed color shortly after we got him (about 2 months). He was not the last fish added and quickly claimed his territory when we got him. I notice when the the tank is cleaned each week he hides. He occasionally digs a hole in the substrate in one corner of the tank but then just leaves it and mostly sits on his perch.

Is he unhappy in the tank? Is that why he changed color? Or could there be another reason?

 

[ncaldwell]

I'm not entirely sure but I think it's just something they do. My wife and I both bought dark purplish midas blennies about 5 months ago and hers is still purple/blue, mine however almost right away turned half yellow and been like that about 5 months.