New midas blenny abnormal discoloration?

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Hi there. I got a 2 1/2" midas blenny 10 days ago (6-5-2011) and since I got it, noticed some dark coloration along the body, tail fin and dorsal fin. The LFS suspected this fish was of the African variety but wasn't sure. I thought the discoloration was stress. It's since then, has become comfortable in QT and is used to me being around. It eats frozen mysis, shrimp, and ocean nutirtion omnivore foods (all rinsed and soaked in fat and vitamin suppliments). No abnormal behavior noticed and it seems otherwise healthy.
Should I be concerned or is it likely that it's a normal variance in natural pigmentation? I had a 5" Ecsenius Midas before that didn't have this coloration.

[leebca]

The short answer is, 'I don't know for sure.' If it is natural, it won't change. Keep an eye on it and if it does change, take additional photos and post again. Generally, if there is no change in a couple of weeks, then it isn't anything to worry about.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Once again, thanks Lee. Your input is much appreciated. Ill update this thread if the color changes or stays the same by the time quarantine is up. Should be by the 17th of July.

[Kmoriarty]

I just got one today. After the attendant netted him, he got brown blotches all over him. I asked about it and the attendant said that they do that when they feel threatened or nervous. I've got mine in qt and he already changed back to a beautiful light pink after hiding under a rock I have in the QT for a few minutes. Kind of cool, almost like camoflauge. BTW you probably knew this but they are jumpers! Mine already tried to surf carpet so I had to make a makeshift cover for my QT. Good luck he looks beautiful.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Thanks Kmoriarty. I learned about the color change from stress and jumping from my last midas blenny. I bought a 5" one a few months back and found out during acclimation that it was jumper. After 6 weeks in QT, I added it to the DT and used egg crate/ lighting grid for a top. I think it was less than a week or two the sucker jumped through the egg crate and got baked. I was so bummed out. This time around, I'm going to make a cover or two from window screen or a fine enough net/ mesh and frames. Nothing worse than losing a perfectly healthy (and my personal favorite) fish because I didn't use the right equipment.
This one is smaller and I can already tell a difference in personality, compared to my last one. I'm probably concerned about nothing but it struck me as odd that this is the only M blenny I've seen with darker fins and such.

[leebca]

I'm probably over reacting but in the "old days" screens were made of metal. Now mostly made of plastic. Just be sure it is plastic if you choose a screen, and wash it well, before use.

[Original Fin]

My local OSH sells both types James. I was looking into this too. The frame channels are all aluminum however. I suppose if you are handy with a miter saw, & router or dado blade, you could make your own out of plastic or acrylic. Home Depot and Lowes sell plastic (looks like HDPE) C channel in the fencing section. They are used as cap rails on plastic lattice panels. They're nice and cheap too...a couple bucks for an 8th length. That's what I was thinking about using whenever I get around to doing mine.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

The blenny made it out of quarantine today and after deworming and an improved diet, there's no change in the coloration. And in case anyone was wondering what I did to make screen tops: DIY Aquarium Screen Top.