Pholidichthys leucotaenia (Convict blenny)

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Facts

Latin name	Pholidichthys leucotaenia - Bleeker, 1856
Local name	Convict blenny
Family	Pholidichthyidae - Pholidichthys
Origin	Australia, Indonesia, Central/West Pacific
Max length	34 cm (13.4")

As aquarium fish

Minimum volume	400 l (106 gal)
Hardiness	Hardy
Suitable for aquarium	Suitable with care
Reef safe	Reef safe with caution
Aggressiveness	Mostly peaceful but might be aggressive towards similar species

Feed

Recommended	Fish Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...) Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)

Can be a threat to small fish

This spicies might be a threat to smaller fishes.

Threat towards crustaceans

This species poses a threat towards shrimps and crabs etc., which are relatively small.

Rearranges the sand

This species likes rearranging the sand in the aquarium.

Be sure that the rocks cannot collapse if the sand is removed.

Frequent feeding

This fish requires feeding several times a day, especially when newly added.

When the fish can find its natural food in the aquarium it requires less frequent feeding.

Can coexist as a pair

They can live as a pair provided they are introduced simultaneously.

Hiding places

This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.

Bred in captivity

This species can be bred in captivity, one can therefore consider asking your local fish store for a captive bred specimen.

Description

When young these fish have horizontal stripes, but as they grow, the pattern changes and the stripes become more vertical.

Should be kept in an aquarium where there is enough sand for it to make a small cave.

Family description (Pholidichthyidae)

Convict Blennies (Pholidichthydiae) live in small holes in the sand and rocks. At first they live on only zooplankton, but as they become larger they also start eating fish and crustaceans.

Provided with the right environment these fish are a nice and unique addition to an aquarium.

One should be aware that these fish dig into the bottom so that sand and debris whirls around in a tank.
If one wishes an aquarium where the debris does not accumulate in one place, this is the obvious choice.

FishBase

Aquarium trade	Yes
Distribution	Western Central Pacific: Philippines south to the Solomon Islands. Absent from Australia.
Danish common names	Fangedragtsslimfisk
English common names	Convict blenny

References and further reading

About references

Scott W. Michael. Reef Aquarium Fishes: 500+ Essential-to-know Species - TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)
Bob Fenner. Convict Blennies, Family Pholidichthyidae - Wet Web Media - (English)