Fun Convict Blenny Facts For Kids

Iram Ashfaq
Oct 20, 2022 By Iram Ashfaq
Originally Published on Aug 06, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
Convict blenny facts that every kid loves.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 7.4 Min

The convict blenny is a great fish for new saltwater hobbyists. The convict blenny is a small, unusual fish that can be found in the warm waters of the Caribbean.

This fish is very interesting because it can change its color to match the environment, and has venomous spines on its head and back that are used against predators.

The convict blenny usually eats small invertebrates such as shrimp or crabs, but will also eat plants, seagrasses, algae, and other larger fishes if they're available. It has big eyes and a bright orange body with black stripes; it also has long fins that make it look like a little person wearing a jail uniform!

These blennies are interesting to watch because they seem to have personalities! They are very hardy, inexpensive, and can be found in most pet stores.

Convict blennies come from the Indo-Pacific region, and the Solomon Islands so they need to live in water with moderate temperature. These little guys will eat anything you put into their tank!

They are small and usually stay within the rockwork or live rock of the tank.

If it gets stressed out or scared it will release its venomous toxins into the water which could kill off all the other creatures in your tank! They are territorial creatures who will bite predators with their sharp teeth to protect themselves and their homes.

 

Convict Blenny Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a convict blenny?

A convict blenny is a type of fish that looks like it should be in jail because of how they look, hence the name. They have an orange body with black bars to help them blend into a sand coral reef after digging in for protection from predators.

What class of animal does a convict blenny belong to?

The poor convict blennies belonging to the class Actinopterygii, are always getting into trouble! One minute they're just minding their own business up on shore and then next thing you know they've been dragged back out to sea by an unruly grey reef shark!

How many convict blenny are there in the world?

We don't know how many convict blennies are in the world but we are fascinated by these little creatures.

Where does a convict blenny live?

Convict blenny species live primarily in the shallow waters of a coral reef, but they also have been known to be spotted out near the coast or off sand bottoms as well.

What is a convict blenny's habitat?

The convict blenny is a small fish that lives off the coast of Australia, Solomon Islands, and New Zealand, where it can be found in caves by day-time or hiding under rocks at night to avoid predators.

Who do convict blenny live with?

The marine convict blenny species is a solitary species of fish that lives in the Pacific Ocean and Solomon Islands. They are usually found living on or near reefs, scraping algae off rocks with their suction tube-like mouths feeding themselves.

These fish have a peculiar adaptation: they carve out tiny "apartments" for themselves where food is plentiful and there's no competition with other species of the same size.

How long does a convict blenny live?

This fish has been seen to be living up to five years in captivity!

How do they reproduce?

The pholidichthys leucotaenia are fascinating creatures that reproduce in an interesting way. Males will often be found guarding the eggs of females or fertilizing them with their sperm when they can't find a mate themselves.

What is their conservation status?

Convict blennies are really interesting little creatures; their conservation status is Least Concern which means they're doing pretty well for themselves considering how difficult it would be if we could hunt them from both above and below water.

Convict Blenny Fun Facts

Coastal walk, Byom Bay, Australia

We've been unable to source an image of a convict blenny and have used an image of its habitat. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a convict blenny, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.

What do convict blenny look like?

The convict blenny, also known as pholidichthys leucotaenia, is a small fish that can be found in a coral reef. The species has an elongated body and around five vertical purple stripes on its side from head to tail.

The bright colors of this tiny creature make it easy for predators like larger fishes or octopuses to spot them with ease during their feeding time.

So, they have adapted by living fearlessly among the tentacles of these ferocious beasts! The convict blenny mimics the look of an old prison uniform.

These tiny little guys are not really "bad" like their namesake suggests. So don't be alarmed if you see one lurking around. Even sucker fish have really interesting patterns!

How cute are they?

Convict blennies are one of the most colorful and charismatic fish in the sea. With a diet that includes algae, crustaceans, small fishes among other invertebrates, they live brilliantly in captivity. Parents should consider getting their kids this adorable creature as they are a perfect addition to your aquarium tank back home!

How do they communicate?

Convict blennies are fascinating creatures that live in a symbiotic relationship with algae on the reef faces of tropical islands across the Pacific Ocean. The pholidichthys leucotaenia can be seen communicating with one another by using both visual cues such as waves and points to show which direction or area is best for hunting prey.

How big is a convict blenny?

When you're looking for a pet, there's no need to go big. One of the smallest fish in the sea is also one of its most memorable creatures, the convict blenny from the family pholidichthyidae!

This little guy has everything going for it: it only grows up to be about 22-24 in (55-60 cm) long and can live in any type of water that isn't too deep or salty.

How fast can a convict blenny swim?

They can travel up to three body lengths per second and that's faster than a motorboat! It is no surprise then, why these convict fish are so successful at catching prey and scavenging for food; they're fast enough to eat anything smaller than themselves while it still swims!

How much does a convict blenny weigh?

The convict blenny is an interesting name for this tiny, yet mighty creature! The pholidichthys leucotaenia are small reddish striped fishes that usually weigh 2-4 lb (1-2 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Males and females of family pholidichthys leucotaenia are both called "convict blenny" which is quite interesting.

What would you call a baby convict blenny?

A baby convict blenny! Baby convict blennies are a unique and interesting species of fish that inhabit the shallow waters near shorelines. These tiny little babies belong to the family pholidichthyidae.

What do they eat?

The convict blenny is a small fish that has the ability to eat just about anything. Blennies have been observed eating shrimps, worms, and other seafood meat in their habitat. The pholidichthys leucotanenia commonly ends up in the catfish plotosus lineatus or porbeagle shark's (also known as striped eel catfish) tummy!

Are they dangerous?

Though this group of fish is by no means dangerous to humans when handling them in an aquarium tank, these fish can be very aggressive with their own species as well as other neighboring fish.

Would they make a good pet?

Some people might think that a convict blenny is not the best choice of fish, but they couldn't be more wrong! Not only do these adorable little guys love to swim around and explore in their new tanks, but they are also known for being great at removing algae from walls or rocks with their strong teeth.

Did you know...

The convict blenny is so common in Central Lembeh that people have started calling it "convict blenny lembeh". Even the giant frogfish is very common there!

What's the difference between gobies and blennies?

Some people think that blenny and goby are the same, but they're not. In fact, people commonly refer to an engineer goby as convict gobies!

Unlike an engineer goby, blenny has a stiff tail with spiny dorsal fin rays or plates on its back. The convict goby has got an elongated body without any distinct protrusions as this appendage does.

This is a very distinctive feature for an engineer goby which makes the engineer goby easily identifiable!

The convict goby does not have fins protruding from their backs — so if you want something colorful in your aquarium tank, consider getting one of these fish instead! The engineer goby are usually found in saltwater while blennies reside primarily in freshwater.

Blennies just like an engineer goby, also have eyes on their lower body parts whereas an engineer goby doesn't; the engineer goby possesses only one set of eyeballs that exist in their heads! You will love an engineer goby, truly adorable!

Do convict fish leave burrow?

It's true, convict blenny fish do leave their burrows. They will explore the outside world for a few minutes, but they always return back to safety in their convict blenny burrow as soon as possible! In the ocean, convict fish are infamous for their tendency to leave and explore.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animals facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these horn shark facts and pacific salmon facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Convict blenny coloring pages.

Convict Blenny Fact Facts

What Did They Prey On?

Shrimps, worms, algae, and seafood meat

What Type of Animal were they?

Omnivore

Average Litter Size?

400-500

How Much Did They Weigh?

2-4 lb (1-2 kg)

What habitat Do they Live In?

sand covered coral reef in marine zones

Where Do They Live?

western and central pacific regions, solomon islands, lembeh, and philippines

How Long Were They?

22-24 in (55-60 cm)

How Tall Were They?

N/A

Class

Actinopterygii

Genus

Pholidichthys

Family

Pholidichthyidae

Scientific Name

Pholidichthys leucotaenia

What Do They Look Like?

Yellowish-blue black

Skin Type

Moist skin

What Are Their Main Threats?

sharks, and catfish plotosus lineatus

What is their Conservation Status?

Least Concern
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Written by Iram Ashfaq

Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health

Iram Ashfaq picture

Iram AshfaqBachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health

With a Bachelor's degree in Dental Surgery from Shaney Institute of Health Sciences and a Master's degree in Public Health from Imperial College London, Iram is a highly qualified and accomplished writer from Srinagar, India. Over the course of a year, she has acquired multiple writing certifications, focusing on health sciences and research studies. Prior to joining Kidadl, Iram gained valuable experience working as a content writer for Indian firms and interning at a New York-based company. Her expertise and passion for writing shine through in her ability to create compelling content across a variety of topics.

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