African Midas Blenny?

Reefer350Lighting · May 13, 2020

Hi guys I felt like my "midas blenny" seemed a little too dark. For some reason i remembered it being brighter. Its eating its swimming around all over the place so i think its healthy. I got it 2 months ago but i dont think its a midas blenny. I searched online about the midas blenny being dark and i saw a post on someone who found a "True African Midas Blenny"
Does anyone know if this is one? I searched online only found a couple photos but they do look alot different APART from the orange markings on there face. And it got me wondering did i just pay £20 for a fish that is so rare that i can't even find a price for? Im probably looking on the wrong websites but i did look through live aquria and a couple of others i found no fish that had the same colour and markings.
I apologise for the photos not being super clear my s10+ is supposed to have a really good camera but it sucks for this purpose.

naterealbig · May 13, 2020

Wow beautiful fish. The Midas Blenny is able to change it's "hue" from light to dark, pretty drastically. Also, there is also a blue color variation, which is much less common, that exhibit blues and greens, in addition to the yellow and orange. I actually seek these out specifically, as I find them particularly beautiful. Perhaps this is what you have.

najer · May 13, 2020

Gorgeous fish, when I asked my lfs (Bristol - Southwest Marines) to get me one they asked what colour I wanted, yellow or blue, as above you appear to have the darker one, I wanted yellow.

dyno · May 13, 2020

Yea awesome fish, my guess would be it is out of Kenya or the east coast of Africa

Beau_B · May 13, 2020

Mine is the same, sleeping now so no pic, but he (she?) is almost purple. It was quite yellow when I got it.

I read somewhere they change to blend in with other fish; in my case I have a couple red wrasse varieties and other darker fish. For now I assume he is just trying to fit in.

Reefer350Lighting · May 13, 2020

Beau_B said:
Mine is the same, sleeping now so no pic, but he (she?) is almost purple. It was quite yellow when I got it.

I read somewhere they change to blend in with other fish; in my case I have a couple red wrasse varieties and other darker fish. For now I assume he is just trying to fit in.

Oh thats pretty cool maybe i should have done more research... I have 2 clowns, silver bellied wrasse,cleaner wrasse,royal basslet a chalk goby a blue and yellow tang. And of course the blenny and of course these guys are all bright colour ful fish so i dont think he's trying to blend in

Reefer350Lighting · May 13, 2020

naterealbig said:
Wow beautiful fish. The Midas Blenny is able to change it's "hue" from light to dark, pretty drastically. Also, there is also a blue color variation, which is much less common, that exhibit blues and greens, in addition to the yellow and orange. I actually seek these out specifically, as I find them particularly beautiful. Perhaps this is what you have.

Do you know if theres a way to almost force the blenny to change colours? Like feed a different food or anything like that?

Eva Rose · May 13, 2020

Coloration can also be due to stress. They often darken or look blotchy in color, until they are used to new tank. Once he is very comfortable in the tank, you will know what color it actually is.

I had one blue variant (like described above) & a traditional yellow Midas. I loved the blue color - unusual but pretty. If that turns out to be what you have, you are lucky. They are uncommon.

Beau_B · May 19, 2020

Not the greatest photo, but obviously quite purple. If it's stress, I would be amazed; friendly, chubby, front and center kind of fish.

Reefer350Lighting · May 19, 2020

Beau_B said:
Not the greatest photo, but obviously quite purple. If it's stress, I would be amazed; friendly, chubby, front and center kind of fish.

Oh wow the colouration around the face looks amazing mine luckily found its home/hole front and center of my rock work someone offered me 45 for the fish but im not gonna sell it

pbrown · Nov 6, 2020

My Midas is yellow with blue around eyes and antennae at the front top of its head. There is also a blue dorsal line. It is very social with me and openly swims throughout the tank. When it sits on my frag holder it will change color....turn orange with brown spots to camouflage into the rock. It's an immediate reaction. It doesn't do this when swimming or when socializing with the other fish...or when feeding. Just when perched on this particular outpost. Do you know if my midas is an African midas or from the Maldives? Would like to know exactly what kind I have. I purchased mine from my lfs but on Liveaquaria and other sites they only state African or Maldives. Wonder what the difference is in the fish (food/temp etc). Mine has been eating mysis/ and other shrimp + other salt water fish frozen foods. She hasn't gone for the blood worms I feed my green mandarin. For other Midas owners - what have you found they love food wise. Mine eats most anything.