How related are they?
Same subfamily, Salariinae (Algae-scraping blennies): close cousins
They split at the genus level: the Bicolor Blenny belongs to Ecsenius (Coralblennies), the Lawnmower Blenny to Salarias (Lawnmower blennies).
Find the Bicolor Blenny on the tree · Find the Lawnmower Blenny on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Bicolor Blenny | Lawnmower Blenny |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Chordata Chordates | |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata Vertebrates | |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata jawed vertebrates | |
| Parvphylum | Osteichthyes bony fishes | |
| Gigaclass | Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes | |
| Superclass | Actinopteri | |
| Class | Teleostei Teleost fishes | |
| Order | Blenniiformes Blennies and kin | |
| Family | Blenniidae Combtooth blennies | |
| Subfamily | Salariinae Algae-scraping blennies | |
| Genus split | Ecsenius Coralblennies | Salarias Lawnmower blennies |
| Species | Ecsenius bicolor Bicolor Blenny | Salarias fasciatus Lawnmower Blenny |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Bicolor Blenny | Lawnmower Blenny |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Blenny | Fish · Blenny |
| Care level | Easy | Easy |
| Reef safe | With caution | Yes |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Diet | Herbivore | Herbivore |
| Favorite foods | Film and turf algae grazed from live rock, Nori (dried seaweed) on a clip, Spirulina and other algae-based flakes or pellets | Diatom and microalgae films on rock and glass, Fine turf and hair algae, Nori (dried seaweed) on a clip |
| Max size | 4 in (10.2 cm) | 5.5 in (14 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 30 gal | 55 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.020–1.025 | 1.020–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Lifespan | Not well documented. One care guide gives about 2-4 years in the wild and up to about 10 years in captivity with good care; treat these figures as rough. | Up to about 6 years reported in aquariums (Aquariadise); not well documented. |
| Breeding | Very hard | Very hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |