News
SpeciesScientists Discover Mysterious New Fish in the Red Sea – and Have Never Seen It AgainOceanEye to eye with Britain's hidden sharks at SharkAdemy - OceanographicRiversIn October, biologists surveying a New York harbor for invasive fish pulled up a bright yellow one. It wasn't an invasive species at allOceanShedd Aquarium Sends Shark Eggs to Bolster Wild PopulationsSpeciesA rare fish has been found in Lake Ontario, North America, whose entire body is golden. It is a nati..OceanThe Great Sea Reef Is Fiji’s Wildest Dive, and a New Frontier for ConservationOceanEckerd College professor contributes to designating Biscayne Bay an Important Shark and Ray AreaSpeciesRio Verde Grande Survey Identifies Fifty-Three Fish Species Facing Flow ReductionsFisheriesAdams River Salmon Run in Thompson-NicolaIndiaHilsa production dropped 26% in five years, fisheries minister tells parliamentSpeciesScientists Discover Mysterious New Fish in the Red Sea – and Have Never Seen It AgainOceanEye to eye with Britain's hidden sharks at SharkAdemy - OceanographicRiversIn October, biologists surveying a New York harbor for invasive fish pulled up a bright yellow one. It wasn't an invasive species at allOceanShedd Aquarium Sends Shark Eggs to Bolster Wild PopulationsSpeciesA rare fish has been found in Lake Ontario, North America, whose entire body is golden. It is a nati..OceanThe Great Sea Reef Is Fiji’s Wildest Dive, and a New Frontier for ConservationOceanEckerd College professor contributes to designating Biscayne Bay an Important Shark and Ray AreaSpeciesRio Verde Grande Survey Identifies Fifty-Three Fish Species Facing Flow ReductionsFisheriesAdams River Salmon Run in Thompson-NicolaIndiaHilsa production dropped 26% in five years, fisheries minister tells parliament
EveryFish
Bicolor Blenny ( Ecsenius bicolor )

Bicolor blenny

A small Indo-Pacific marine fish popular in home aquariums.

Photo: portioid, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The bicolor blenny is a small marine fish native to the Indo-Pacific region. Reaching a maximum length of eleven centimetres, this species is highly valued and frequently kept by hobbyists in the global aquarium trade.

Share on WhatsApp

  • Reaches a maximum adult length of eleven centimetres.
  • Frequently kept by hobbyists in the marine aquarium trade.
  • Native to the broad Indo-Pacific marine region.
  • Commonly referred to as the flame tail blenny.

What it is

This species belongs to a group of marine fishes known as blennies. It is a relatively small fish, with adults reaching a maximum length of eleven centimetres. The animal is native to the vast Indo-Pacific region. Its common name suggests a striking two-tone appearance with a flame-like tail. It inhabits marine environments across its broad native range, making it a well-known resident of these tropical and subtropical waters.

Where it lives

The natural distribution of this marine fish covers the extensive Indo-Pacific region. This vast area encompasses numerous tropical and subtropical seas across the globe. The species thrives in these broad oceanic environments, taking advantage of the warm waters. Its wide geographic spread allows it to inhabit various marine settings across this massive area, making it a common resident of these distant coastal and offshore waters.

Bicolor blenny
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

This fish is highly valued in the global aquarium trade. Hobbyists frequently keep it in home tanks due to its manageable size and attractive appearance. Reaching a maximum length of just eleven centimetres, it is perfectly suited for standard marine aquarium setups. Its primary interaction with humans is strictly within the ornamental fishkeeping community, where it remains a popular and enduring choice for enthusiasts.

Bicolor blenny Ecsenius bicolor
Bicolor blenny Ecsenius bicolor. Photo: Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Bicolor blenny

How large does the bicolor blenny grow?

This marine fish remains relatively small throughout its life. Adult individuals reach a maximum length of eleven centimetres, making them a compact and manageable choice for marine aquarium setups.

Where is the natural home of this fish?

The species is native to the Indo-Pacific region. This vast marine area encompasses numerous tropical and subtropical seas, providing a broad natural habitat for the fish to thrive in the wild.

Is this species kept in home aquariums?

Yes, it is very popular in the aquarium trade. Its small size and attractive appearance make it a frequent choice for hobbyists looking to add a marine fish to their home tanks.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Ecsenius bicolor", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

Like Bicolor blenny

All other fish
WorldAnglerfish Ray-finned fish using a modified dorsal fin ray as a lure to catch prey.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1829 WorldBluehead wrasse A small Atlantic reef fish known for changing sex and colour.Other · Coral reefs WorldBlue-spotted grouper A widely distributed Indo-Pacific grouper known for its blue spots and invasive impact in Hawaii.Other · Coasts and shelves WorldSeahorse Small marine fish with horse-like heads and curled tails in the genus Hippocampus.Other · Coasts and shelves

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly digest

Every Monday: the fish of the day, new pages on EveryFish, and the conferences and anniversaries of the week ahead.