The Midas Blenny is one of the most colorful and charismatic blennies available to marine aquarists. Its elongated golden-yellow body, bright blue-rimmed eyes, expressive face, and unusual swimming motion give it a personality all its own.
Scientifically known as Ecsenius midas, the Midas Blenny is also called the Golden Blenny, Persian Blenny, or Midas Coralblenny.
Unlike many blennies that spend most of their time perched on rocks and grazing algae, the Midas Blenny is an active zooplankton feeder that frequently swims high above the reef. Wild individuals may even mingle with schools of anthias and other planktivorous reef fish.
This makes the Midas Blenny somewhat unusual within its family. It still loves caves and rockwork, but it also spends considerably more time swimming in open water than many familiar blennies.
Midas Blennies are generally hardy, reef safe, and relatively peaceful, although they can become territorial toward similar-looking blennies or other fish competing for the same hiding places.
🐟 Midas Blenny Care at a Glance
| Care Requirement | Midas Blenny |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ecsenius midas |
| Other names | Golden Blenny, Persian Blenny, Midas Coralblenny |
| Family | Blenniidae |
| Environment | Marine |
| Natural range | Indo-Pacific |
| Adult size | Up to about 5 inches |
| Recommended tank size | 30 gallons or larger |
| Temperature | About 74–80°F |
| pH | Approximately 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific gravity | About 1.023–1.026 |
| Diet | Primarily planktivorous omnivore |
| Temperament | Peaceful to semi-aggressive |
| Reef safe | Generally yes |
| Swimming level | Middle and upper water with frequent rock retreats |
| Care level | Beginner to intermediate |
| Social arrangement | Usually kept singly |
| Breeding | Demersal egg layer |
| Jump risk | High; secure lid recommended |
💛 What Does a Midas Blenny Look Like?
The Midas Blenny is best known for its brilliant golden coloration.
Typical individuals display:
- Golden yellow body
- Yellow-orange coloration
- Blue or violet markings around the eyes
- Long slender body
- Continuous dorsal fin
- Rounded head
- Large expressive eyes
- Relatively long tail in adults
Color is surprisingly variable.
Some Midas Blennies appear intensely yellow, while others may become:
- Orange
- Olive
- Gray-green
- Brownish
- Pale yellow
Their coloration can change with:
- Mood
- Environment
- Social surroundings
- Stress
- Swimming behavior
A fish that appears grayish in a cave may become intensely golden once it begins swimming through open water.
🎭 Midas Blennies Can Change Color
The ability of the Midas Blenny to change color is one of its most interesting behaviors.
Wild fish have been observed shifting coloration depending on whether they are resting close to the reef or swimming among other fishes.
A Midas Blenny may therefore look:
- Golden while swimming
- Darker while hiding
- Grayish when frightened
- Paler during acclimation
Temporary color changes do not necessarily indicate illness.
However, a fish that remains unusually dark while also:
- Refusing food
- Breathing rapidly
- Hiding constantly
- Losing weight
should be examined more carefully.
🐠 Midas Blennies and Anthias
One of the most fascinating behaviors associated with the Midas Blenny is its tendency to swim among schooling reef fishes.
Wild individuals have been observed associating with Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis).
The resemblance can be striking.
A golden Midas Blenny swimming among orange-yellow female anthias may imitate both their:
- Coloration
- Swimming behavior
This type of social resemblance may help the blenny blend into a group of open-water reef fishes.
It also explains why Midas Blennies behave very differently from many rock-bound blennies.
For a natural-looking reef display, a Midas Blenny can pair beautifully with Anthias in a sufficiently large aquarium.
🌊 Where Do Midas Blennies Come From?
The Midas Blenny has a broad Indo-Pacific distribution.
Its natural range extends from the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aqaba eastward across much of the tropical Pacific.
Wild fish inhabit:
- Coral reefs
- Reef walls
- Coastal reefs
- Outer reef slopes
- Areas with moderate currents
- Rock and coral structures
They occur at depths ranging from shallow reef environments to approximately 40 meters.
Unlike many blennies that remain continuously attached to rock surfaces, Midas Blennies often swim several feet above the reef while feeding on plankton.
When threatened, they quickly retreat into a hole or crevice.
🪨 Why Midas Blennies Need Rockwork
Although Midas Blennies are active swimmers, caves remain essential.
A fish typically selects a narrow opening in:
- Live rock
- Reef structure
- Coral skeleton
- Artificial rockwork
and turns it into a permanent home.
The blenny may spend much of its resting time with:
- Head protruding from the cave
- Body hidden inside
- Eyes watching the aquarium
This is classic blenny behavior.
Provide several possible retreats so the fish can choose its preferred location.
A secure cave often makes a Midas Blenny considerably more confident.
📏 How Big Do Midas Blennies Get?
Midas Blennies can reach approximately 5 inches, or around 13 centimeters.
This makes them larger than several other popular Ecsenius blennies.
Their elongated body can make them appear even larger when swimming in the open.
Unlike a bulky 5-inch fish, however, a Midas Blenny can retreat into surprisingly narrow openings.
Plan the aquarium around adult size rather than the small juvenile commonly offered in fish stores.
🏡 Midas Blenny Tank Size
A 30-gallon aquarium or larger is a good practical minimum for one Midas Blenny.
Although some individuals may survive in smaller systems, additional swimming room is valuable because this species spends more time in open water than many other blennies.
A larger aquarium provides:
- More swimming space
- More caves
- Better water stability
- Additional feeding opportunities
- Greater tank-mate flexibility
- Reduced territorial conflict
For a mixed reef community, 40–55 gallons or larger can be even more comfortable.
🪨 Setting Up a Midas Blenny Aquarium
A good Midas Blenny aquarium combines open swimming water with substantial reef structure.
Include:
- Live rock
- Caves
- Narrow crevices
- Overhangs
- Open swimming areas
- Moderate water movement
- Good surface agitation
Do not fill the entire aquarium with dense rockwork.
The fish should have room to swim above and around the reef.
At the same time, it should always be within easy reach of a secure hiding place.
🏠 Their Favorite Cave
Many Midas Blennies become extremely attached to one particular hole.
The fish may:
- Sleep there every night
- Retreat there when frightened
- Watch feeding activity from the entrance
- Defend it from similar fish
Some individuals choose surprisingly small openings and reverse into them tail-first.
Once a Midas Blenny establishes a favorite cave, avoid repeatedly disturbing that section of the reef unless necessary.
A stable territory helps reduce stress.
🌊 Water Movement
Moderate reef-style water movement works well.
In nature, Midas Blennies occur in areas with moderate currents where plankton passes through the water column.
Provide:
- Good circulation
- Strong oxygenation
- Surface agitation
- Open-water flow
- Sheltered areas inside rockwork
The fish should be able to swim naturally without continuously fighting an intense narrow powerhead stream.
Broad, variable reef flow is preferable.
💧 Midas Blenny Water Parameters
Maintain stable tropical marine water.
A useful general range is:
- Temperature: 74–80°F
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.023–1.026
- Ammonia: 0 ppm
- Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: Keep appropriately low
For mixed reef aquariums, specific gravity near 1.025–1.026 works particularly well.
Midas Blennies are reasonably hardy once established, but sudden changes in:
- Salinity
- Temperature
- pH
- Oxygen
should still be avoided.
🍽️ What Do Midas Blennies Eat?
One of the most important facts about Midas Blenny care is that they are not primarily algae-grazing blennies.
Wild Ecsenius midas feeds heavily on zooplankton in the water column.
Good aquarium foods include:
- Mysis shrimp
- Enriched brine shrimp
- Copepods
- Calanus
- Fish eggs
- Small marine pellets
- Marine flakes
- Frozen plankton blends
- Finely chopped seafood
Some vegetable matter can be included in the diet, but animal-based planktonic foods should make up a substantial portion.
🟢 Do Midas Blennies Eat Algae?
They may occasionally pick at algae or other material on reef surfaces, but Midas Blennies should not be purchased as algae-control fish.
This is one of the major differences between the Midas and several other blennies.
A Bicolor Blenny may spend far more time grazing algae and biofilm from rock.
The Midas Blenny tends to spend more time:
- Swimming in open water
- Capturing suspended foods
- Watching for plankton
- Retreating to caves
If algae removal is your main goal, choose an animal whose natural feeding behavior actually matches that job.
🍤 Feeding a Midas Blenny
Healthy adults generally do well with one or two good meals per day, although several smaller feedings are also beneficial.
Foods that drift through the current often trigger a particularly strong response.
A varied routine might include:
- Morning marine pellets
- Afternoon mysis shrimp
- Occasional copepods or Calanus
- Spirulina-containing food for dietary variety
Avoid relying exclusively on algae wafers.
A Midas Blenny fed as though it were a strict herbivore may gradually become malnourished.
⚠️ Signs of Poor Nutrition
Watch body condition closely.
A healthy Midas Blenny should have:
- Full abdomen
- Strong feeding response
- Smooth body profile
- Active swimming
Warning signs include:
- Pinched belly
- Hollow area behind the head
- Reduced activity
- Refusal to leave cave during feeding
- Progressive weight loss
Newly imported fish may initially prefer frozen foods over pellets.
Get the fish eating consistently first; conversion to dry food can happen gradually afterward.
😇 Are Midas Blennies Peaceful?
Midas Blennies are generally peaceful toward unrelated reef fish.
They usually coexist well with:
- Cardinalfish
- Clownfish
- Gobies
- Anthias
- Chromis
- Peaceful wrasses
- Many dwarf angelfish
However, they can become territorial toward fish that:
- Look similar
- Occupy the same cave
- Compete for identical shelter
- Belong to closely related blenny species
This is why the species is often described as peaceful to semi-aggressive.
Most aggression is territorial rather than predatory.
🐠 Best Midas Blenny Tank Mates
Good companions may include:
- Banggai Cardinalfish
- Clownfish
- Anthias
- Blue Chromis
- Goby Fish
- Clown Goby
- Cleaner Shrimp
- Coral Beauty Angelfish
- Peaceful wrasses
- Surgeonfish in suitably large aquariums
The ideal tank mates are peaceful enough to avoid harassment but active enough that the Midas Blenny is not the only confident fish in the aquarium.
⚠️ Tank Mates to Avoid
Avoid:
- Large predatory fish
- Large aggressive groupers
- Frogfish
- Predatory scorpionfish
- Very aggressive damsels in cramped tanks
- Closely related blennies competing for one cave
A large Lionfish may eventually swallow a Midas Blenny if the size difference allows.
Always evaluate predator compatibility according to mouth size, not simply whether the fish currently appear peaceful together.
🆚 Can Midas and Bicolor Blennies Live Together?
Sometimes, but caution is appropriate.
The Bicolor Blenny and Midas Blenny both belong to the genus Ecsenius.
They may therefore recognize one another as competitors.
Conflict can involve:
- Chasing
- Cave defense
- Displays
- Nipping
- Preventing the weaker fish from feeding
In a large aquarium with substantial rockwork and numerous caves, coexistence may be possible.
In a small tank, keeping one Ecsenius blenny is much safer.
🪸 Are Midas Blennies Reef Safe?
Yes.
Midas Blennies are generally considered reef-safe fish.
They normally leave:
- SPS corals
- LPS corals
- Soft corals
- Zoanthids
- Clams
- Anemones
alone.
They frequently perch on or near rock and coral, but significant coral damage is uncommon.
This makes them particularly attractive for mixed reef aquariums.
🦐 Can Midas Blennies Live With Cleaner Shrimp?
Yes.
Adult Cleaner Shrimp are normally excellent companions.
The Midas Blenny is not a large crustacean predator.
A Cleaner Shrimp may even attempt to clean the blenny.
Very small planktonic crustaceans may be eaten because zooplankton forms a natural part of the fish’s diet, but adult ornamental shrimp are generally safe.
🐌 Can Midas Blennies Live With Nassarius Snails?
Yes.
Nassarius Snails and other normal reef cleanup snails are compatible.
Midas Blennies do not specialize in crushing mollusks or attacking cleanup-crew snails.
They can therefore live comfortably with a reef cleanup crew containing:
- Nassarius Snails
- Trochus Snails
- Cleaner Shrimp
- Other suitable reef invertebrates
🌙 Where Do Midas Blennies Sleep?
Midas Blennies usually retreat into a cave or crevice at night.
The fish may wedge most of its body inside while leaving only part of the head visible.
Coloration may become:
- Darker
- Grayish
- Brown
- Dull yellow
during rest.
This is usually normal.
Many individuals return to exactly the same sleeping hole every evening.
🏃 Do Midas Blennies Jump?
Yes.
Midas Blennies are excellent jumpers.
A frightened fish can launch itself through surprisingly small openings.
Common triggers include:
- Introduction to a new aquarium
- Aggression
- Sudden lighting changes
- Nighttime disturbances
- Maintenance
- Being startled
A secure lid or tightly fitted mesh cover is strongly recommended.
Pay particular attention to openings around:
- Power cords
- Plumbing
- Overflow boxes
- Filter equipment
- Feeding ports
A healthy Midas Blenny on the floor is one of the most preventable aquarium losses.
🏊 Why Does a Midas Blenny Swim Like an Eel?
Midas Blennies have an elongated body and swim with a distinctive undulating motion.
Rather than relying exclusively on rapid tail beats, the fish may flex much of its body while moving through the water.
This gives it an almost:
- Eel-like
- Snake-like
- Ribbon-like
appearance.
The swimming style is particularly noticeable when the fish leaves the rockwork and joins other open-water fish.
It is completely normal.
👀 Why Is My Midas Blenny Staring at Me?
Blennies are famous for their expressive faces and curious behavior.
A Midas Blenny may spend long periods sitting at its cave entrance and watching:
- People
- Other fish
- Feeding equipment
- Movement outside the aquarium
Over time, many fish learn to associate their keeper with food and become particularly attentive whenever someone approaches.
This curious behavior is one reason blennies develop such strong followings among marine aquarists.
🎨 Why Did My Midas Blenny Turn Brown?
Temporary darkening can occur because of:
- Stress
- Resting
- Hiding
- Social interactions
- Environmental conditions
- Acclimation
FishBase notes that the species can change coloration rapidly and may alter its appearance while swimming among other reef fishes.
If the fish becomes golden again during active swimming and continues eating normally, the change is probably behavioral.
Persistent dark coloration combined with illness symptoms deserves investigation.
🩺 Are Midas Blennies Hardy?
Midas Blennies are generally considered relatively hardy once acclimated.
Healthy specimens usually:
- Accept prepared foods
- Adapt to aquarium life
- Tolerate normal reef water movement
- Interact confidently with tank mates
- Maintain good body condition
However, they remain susceptible to common marine diseases such as:
- Marine ich
- Marine velvet
- Flukes
- Bacterial infections
- Internal parasites
Quarantine remains valuable when introducing any new marine fish.
🩺 Signs of a Healthy Midas Blenny
A healthy specimen should generally have:
- Full abdomen
- Clear eyes
- Intact fins
- Normal breathing
- Strong feeding response
- Active swimming
- Frequent use of its cave
- Alert behavior
Do not mistake resting inside a hole for illness.
That is normal blenny behavior.
More concerning signs include:
- Severe weight loss
- Rapid breathing
- White spots
- Cloudy eyes
- Persistent refusal of food
- Repeated scratching
- Inability to swim normally
🏪 Choosing a Healthy Midas Blenny
At the aquarium store, look for a fish that:
- Is alert
- Has a full abdomen
- Breathes normally
- Has clear eyes
- Shows intact fins
- Responds to food
- Moves normally between cave and open water
Whenever possible, ask to see it eat.
A Midas Blenny already accepting:
- Frozen mysis
- Pellets
- Marine flakes
is generally easier to establish than one that has not eaten since importation.
Avoid severely emaciated specimens even if their coloration is beautiful.
🧪 Quarantining a Midas Blenny
Quarantine can help protect an established reef aquarium from parasites and disease.
During quarantine, observe:
- Appetite
- Weight
- Breathing
- Skin
- Fins
- Waste
- Scratching behavior
Provide the fish with a safe shelter such as an appropriate PVC fitting or other inert hiding structure.
Do not leave a blenny in a completely bare tank with nowhere to retreat.
Security can greatly improve feeding and reduce stress.
👥 Can You Keep Two Midas Blennies Together?
Usually, keeping one is easiest.
Two individuals may become territorial toward each other, particularly in a moderate-sized aquarium.
Possible problems include:
- Cave competition
- Chasing
- Nipping
- Feeding intimidation
A compatible breeding pair may coexist, but obtaining a confirmed pair is different from placing two random adults together.
For most community reefs, one Midas Blenny provides plenty of personality.
♀️ Male vs. Female Midas Blenny
Male and female Midas Blennies are difficult for ordinary aquarists to distinguish visually.
There is no dramatic color difference between the sexes.
Mature males may sometimes become larger or show subtle differences associated with breeding condition, but these characteristics are not sufficiently obvious for reliable store-level sexing.
Behavior during spawning provides much better clues.
🥚 Breeding Midas Blennies
Midas Blennies are oviparous egg layers.
Like other members of their family, they produce demersal eggs.
Rather than floating immediately into open water, eggs are attached to the substrate.
A suitable nest site may be located inside:
- Cave
- Crevice
- Hole in rock
- Other protected surface
The eggs possess adhesive structures that keep them attached.
The larvae eventually hatch and enter the plankton.
👨 Parental Care
In many blennies, males defend nesting sites and guard eggs.
A male may spend considerable time around the nest, protecting it from other fishes.
This can temporarily increase territorial behavior.
Although spawning may occur in a mature aquarium, raising the larvae is much more difficult than simply obtaining eggs.
🐣 Raising Midas Blenny Fry
Newly hatched larvae are tiny and planktonic.
Successful culture may require:
- Dedicated larval aquarium
- Rotifers
- Copepod nauplii
- Phytoplankton
- Gentle circulation
- Carefully controlled lighting
- Frequent feeding
A normal reef aquarium contains filters, pumps, predators, and food competition that make larval survival unlikely.
Captive propagation is therefore considerably more challenging than breeding Banggai Cardinalfish.
🆚 Midas Blenny vs. Bicolor Blenny
The Midas and Bicolor Blenny are closely related but have noticeably different lifestyles.
Midas Blenny
- Golden-yellow coloration
- Up to about 5 inches
- Active open-water swimming
- Feeds heavily on zooplankton
- Frequently joins other schooling fish
- Needs meaty planktonic foods
Bicolor Blenny
- Dark front and yellow-orange rear
- More strongly associated with rockwork
- Greater algae-grazing tendency
- More traditional perching behavior
- Spends less time swimming high in open water
Aquarists wanting an active swimming blenny often prefer the Midas.
Those wanting more classic rock-perching blenny behavior may prefer the Bicolor.
🆚 Midas Blenny vs. Clown Goby
Both fish are small reef inhabitants with plenty of personality, but their behavior is very different.
Midas Blenny
- Reaches around 5 inches
- Active swimmer
- Uses caves
- Eats planktonic foods
- Needs more swimming room
Clown Goby
- Usually around 1–2 inches
- Perches extensively
- Closely associated with branching coral
- Needs very little open swimming room
- May interact directly with SPS corals
Both can work in peaceful reef tanks, and they may coexist successfully because they occupy different niches.
🆚 Midas Blenny vs. Goby
Blennies and Goby Fish are often confused because both groups contain small elongated reef fishes.
However, they belong to different families.
Midas Blennies generally have:
- Long continuous dorsal fins
- Elongated bodies
- Strong perching ability
- Characteristic blenny facial structure
Many gobies have:
- Two separate dorsal fins
- Fused pelvic fins
- Stronger substrate association
- Burrowing or shrimp-partnership behavior
The Midas Blenny’s unusual amount of open-water swimming makes it even easier to distinguish from many typical bottom-dwelling gobies.
❤️ Midas Blenny Lifespan
A well-maintained Midas Blenny can live for several years in captivity.
Longevity depends on:
- Proper nutrition
- Stable salinity
- Water quality
- Disease prevention
- Appropriate aquarium size
- Low chronic stress
- Protection from predators
A fish that survives initial acclimation and feeds reliably can become a long-term member of the reef.
🌍 Conservation
The Midas Blenny has a broad Indo-Pacific range.
FishBase lists Ecsenius midas as Least Concern based on the referenced IUCN assessment.
Responsible marine aquarium practices are still important.
Choose:
- Reputable livestock suppliers
- Properly collected fish
- Captive-bred individuals when available
Never release an aquarium fish into natural waters.
✅ Are Midas Blennies Good for Beginners?
Yes.
The Midas Blenny is one of the more approachable marine blennies for an aquarist with a properly established saltwater tank.
Its advantages include:
- Hardy nature
- Excellent appetite once acclimated
- Manageable adult size
- Reef compatibility
- Peaceful community behavior
- Fascinating personality
- Beautiful coloration
The main things beginners need to understand are:
- It needs more animal-based food than many blennies
- It requires a secure lid
- It can become territorial toward similar blennies
- A secure cave is important
For someone comfortable maintaining stable seawater, it can make an excellent first blenny.
💛 Is the Midas Blenny Right for Your Aquarium?
The Midas Blenny is a wonderful choice for aquarists who want the personality of a blenny but also want a fish that spends plenty of time swimming where it can be seen.
Its combination of:
- Golden coloration
- Expressive face
- Eel-like swimming
- Cave-dwelling behavior
- Open-water feeding
- Social mimicry
makes it unlike almost any other common reef fish.
It works particularly well in:
- Mixed reef aquariums
- Peaceful marine communities
- Tanks containing anthias or chromis
- Aquariums with abundant live rock
- Systems where an active centerpiece blenny is desired
Provide a 30-gallon-or-larger aquarium, several secure caves, stable reef-quality water, a varied plankton-rich diet, peaceful tank mates, and a tightly covered top.
Under those conditions, Ecsenius midas can become one of the most visible and entertaining residents of the reef—alternating between darting through open water and watching the entire aquarium from the doorway of its favorite cave.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name of the Midas Blenny?
The Midas Blenny is Ecsenius midas.
How big do Midas Blennies get?
Adults can reach approximately 5 inches, or about 13 centimeters.
What size tank does a Midas Blenny need?
A 30-gallon aquarium or larger is a good practical minimum. Larger tanks provide more swimming room and territorial space.
Are Midas Blennies reef safe?
Yes. They are generally considered reef safe and normally leave healthy corals and ornamental invertebrates alone.
Do Midas Blennies eat algae?
They may occasionally graze, but they are primarily zooplankton feeders and should not be purchased for algae control.
What do Midas Blennies eat?
Good foods include mysis shrimp, copepods, Calanus, enriched brine shrimp, fish eggs, marine pellets, flakes, and frozen planktonic foods.
How often should a Midas Blenny be fed?
One or two quality meals per day generally works well, although several smaller feeding opportunities are also beneficial.
Are Midas Blennies aggressive?
They are generally peaceful toward unrelated fish but can become territorial toward other blennies and similar-looking species.
Can two Midas Blennies live together?
It is possible with a compatible pair in a large aquarium, but keeping one is safer for most reef tanks.
Can a Midas Blenny live with a Bicolor Blenny?
Sometimes, but both are Ecsenius blennies and may fight over territory. A large tank with numerous caves is essential if attempting the combination.
Can Midas Blennies live with clownfish?
Yes. Clownfish are generally suitable companions.
Can Midas Blennies live with Anthias?
Yes. They can make particularly natural-looking companions because wild Midas Blennies sometimes associate with anthias schools.
Can Midas Blennies live with Cleaner Shrimp?
Yes. Adult Cleaner Shrimp are generally safe.
Do Midas Blennies jump?
Yes. They are capable jumpers, so a tightly fitted lid or mesh cover is strongly recommended.
Why did my Midas Blenny turn brown or gray?
The species can change coloration depending on stress, environment, social surroundings, and whether it is hiding or actively swimming.
Why does my Midas Blenny stay inside a hole?
Using a narrow cave as a permanent home is completely normal blenny behavior.
Do Midas Blennies breed in aquariums?
They can spawn in captivity. Eggs are attached to protected substrate, while the hatched larvae become planktonic and are challenging to raise.
Are Midas Blennies good beginner fish?
Yes. A healthy Midas Blenny can be an excellent choice for an aquarist who already has a fully cycled and stable saltwater aquarium.
🔗 Related Articles
- Bicolor Blenny
- Anthias
- Goby Fish
- Clown Goby
- Banggai Cardinalfish
- Clownfish
- Blue Chromis
- Cleaner Shrimp
- Nassarius Snail
- Coral Beauty Angelfish
📚 Sources
- FishBase — Ecsenius midas Species Summary
- World Register of Marine Species — Ecsenius Taxon List
- NCBI Taxonomy — Ecsenius midas
