François Libert, Frankreich
Info
Exallias brevis(Kner, 1868)
The Leopard Blenny has a cirri stripe running down the back of the neck and a branched tentacle over both eyes. The species is white with small spots on the head, body and fins. The spots are brown in females and juveniles. Males have brown spots on the head and belly, but red spots on the rest of the body. The dorsal and caudal fins of males are usually red. Exallias brevis is the only species of the genus Exallias.
Exallias brevis is a blenny found on coral reefs from the Red Sea east to Hawaii.
It feeds exclusively on coral and leaves characteristic white spots that can be mistaken for disease or coral bleaching.
It feeds on a variety of stony corals, including Porites, Pocillopora, Montipora, Acropora, Leptastrea, Pavona, Cyphastrea and others, including Millepora.
Hawaiian Exallias brevis leave circular scars on corals. Males feed at a mean rate of 13.94 bites/hour, females at 28.4 bites/hour.
Normally it does not feed in the same spot to allow the coral to regenerate and not die (which can take up to 50 days in Hawaii), however they can kill large patches of live coral when preparing a nesting site.
The video in the link shows a leopard blenny feeding in the ocean.
They are solitary animals and are hard to find in the trade due to their diet. Does NOT take any substitute food!
Synonymised names:
Cirripectes leopardus (Day, 1870) · unaccepted
Exalia brevis (Kner, 1868) · unaccepted > misspelling
Exalias brevis (Kner, 1868) · unaccepted (misspelling)
Salarias brevis Kner, 1868 · unaccepted
Salarias leopardus Day, 1870 · unaccepted
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
The Leopard Blenny has a cirri stripe running down the back of the neck and a branched tentacle over both eyes. The species is white with small spots on the head, body and fins. The spots are brown in females and juveniles. Males have brown spots on the head and belly, but red spots on the rest of the body. The dorsal and caudal fins of males are usually red. Exallias brevis is the only species of the genus Exallias.
Exallias brevis is a blenny found on coral reefs from the Red Sea east to Hawaii.
It feeds exclusively on coral and leaves characteristic white spots that can be mistaken for disease or coral bleaching.
It feeds on a variety of stony corals, including Porites, Pocillopora, Montipora, Acropora, Leptastrea, Pavona, Cyphastrea and others, including Millepora.
Hawaiian Exallias brevis leave circular scars on corals. Males feed at a mean rate of 13.94 bites/hour, females at 28.4 bites/hour.
Normally it does not feed in the same spot to allow the coral to regenerate and not die (which can take up to 50 days in Hawaii), however they can kill large patches of live coral when preparing a nesting site.
The video in the link shows a leopard blenny feeding in the ocean.
They are solitary animals and are hard to find in the trade due to their diet. Does NOT take any substitute food!
Synonymised names:
Cirripectes leopardus (Day, 1870) · unaccepted
Exalia brevis (Kner, 1868) · unaccepted > misspelling
Exalias brevis (Kner, 1868) · unaccepted (misspelling)
Salarias brevis Kner, 1868 · unaccepted
Salarias leopardus Day, 1870 · unaccepted
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
