Bicolor Blenny, why are some half orange and some not?

[ReefRelated]

I just bought my first Bicolor blenny yesterday because a friend of mine has one and I think it's the coolest fish. I love there personality. The one I bought is all black. He does get the white tiger looking stripes on him when he is scared (like most of them) but his natural color is black. I have done a bunch of research since last night and I have found that this is normal. Most of them are half orange but many are like mine. In my Burgess Fish Atlas book, they have 2 pictures of the bicolor and they both appear all black like mine. Someone told me that when they get bigger they loose the orange tail. Is this true? Mine is somewhat bigger than normal so it may be. I did a search on bicolor blenny color phase and found there are even some that will get blue color in them more durring mating. Does anyone know if all the bicolors are born with an orange back half and then change or are they born with different color phases? I doubt it's related to the sex of the animal but anything is possible.

BTW, if you have never had one of these fish, get one. They are inexpensive and they will also pick algae off your rocks. Cool fish!

 

[Modo]

I had a Red-lipped Blenny that I loved. He was awesome and could consume a full sheet of nori in about 10 minutes. Fiesty little booger too, always swimming in the water column. When I moved and broke down my 29g I gave him away to a fellow member of DFWMAS.

But to answer your question, I don't have a clue. I just was reminiscing about Pooky the Red Lipped Blenny.

Here are some pics of him in his new home.

 

[ReefRelated]

Nice fish. They have the coolest facial expressions.

 

[ReefRelated]

^

 

[Christyf5]

Mine was cute and tiny when I first bought him. They have a ton of character. He is still cute, albeit not tiny. He has become much more aggressive now and has decided that the entire tank is his and will go after anyone. I think he will be taking a trip to the LFS soon if I can catch him. He's stressing everyone else out, including me


Christy
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BMW M Roadster

 

[ReefRelated]

Christy,
Is your bicolor blenny still 2 different colors or is he mainly all black? I am trying to figure out if they are half orange when they are younger and eventually loose that when they get older.

 

[Christyf5]

Mine was always about 3/4 black and 1/4 orange. The orange has diminished somewhat in to a duller greyish black orange. He is about 3 inches long or so and I've had him since he was about an inch long. A friend of mine has a larger bicolor (about 5 inches) and it has a bit brighter coloring but still not as vibrant as the smaller fish.

Christy
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Aging Forum