Little Shop of Coral
Midas Blenny (Exallias midas)
Midas Blenny (Exallias midas)
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Bright, bold, and full of personality, the Midas Blenny is a golden showstopper that behaves more like a mid-water swimmer than a typical rock-perching blenny. It is famous for its vivid yellow to orange coloration and its habit of hovering in the water column, then darting back into a favorite crevice when startled. In the right reef, it is hardy, reef safe, and adds constant motion without being overly aggressive.
Why we love it
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Intense golden color that pops under reef lighting
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Unique hovering behavior so it stays visible and active
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Reef safe and generally peaceful in community tanks
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Big personality in a manageable size
Care & Compatibility
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful to Semi-aggressive (may defend its hiding spot)
Reef Safe: Yes
Diet: Planktivore/Omnivore
Adult Size: ~5"
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons recommended (larger tanks encourage more confident behavior)
Feeding
Midas Blennies do best with frequent, varied feedings:
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Frozen mysis, brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood
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High-quality pellets (once settled)
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Occasional spirulina-based foods or nori as a supplement
Tank & Setup Notes
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Provide rockwork with caves and crevices for a home base
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Stable parameters and good oxygenation support long-term health
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A secure lid is recommended since they can jump when startled
Compatibility Tips
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Great with most reef-safe community fish
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Avoid very aggressive tank mates that will harass it constantly
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Use caution with other blennies or similarly shaped fish in smaller tanks
Acclimation & Health
Slow acclimation is recommended. Quarantine is ideal when possible, and consistent feeding during the first couple of weeks helps them settle in quickly.
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LIGHT
LOW: Place coral at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the type, coral may need to be placed off sand and therefore mounted on a ceramic disc of piece of rock.
MEDIUM: Place coral at mid-range of the tank. Best placed/glued on top of a rock scape at mid-range height.
HIGH: Place coral from mid range to just below water level. SPS coral are shallow growing so they require and are able to tolerate intense light.
FLOW
LOW: Most soft coral do well with a small, gentle pulse. There are certain corals that can even be placed in areas of indirect flow, meaning places aside a rock structure or set into a entrance to a cave style space.
MEDIUM: Many LPS types of coral prefer medium pulse current. Most Euphyllia or corals that have more tissue structure connected to their skeleton, don’t like to be in a high flow area like the direct flow of the wave pump.
HIGH: Similar to high light, SPS enjoy being in some heavy current. Most LPS and SPS that branch encrust or plate prefer high flow that simulates the top water waves.
SKILL
ENTRY: While some may say beginner level, "Entry" is a good term to be used when starting out in the world of corals and marine life. Prior to adding livestock, you want to ensure that your reef has the proper parameters including zero levels of ammonia and nitrite. Seeing traces of nitrate in your waters is a good sign - just keep them at a lower level of 2ppm to 10ppm. Maintaining correct temperature and salinity are a huge factor to stable parameters. Starting to monitor your PH, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium is a great habit to get into to keep a successful reef.
While some soft coral don’t require too much light, having a proper reef light that puts out the proper pars is very important. You'll also want to have a good amount of flow and protected rock areas, as placing corals in their happy spot is ideal for success.
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