Lawnmower Blenny's

[tami1024]

Does anyone out there have any luck w/these? I have had 3 in the past 3 years and they all have died. The last one just died today which I just purchased yesterday.

[CSoli921]

From what I understand they need a lot of algae in their diet. Maybe you haven't been able to keep up with their dietary needs?

[shaneh]

i've had mine for 8 months and he is healthy and fat...they need GHA or film to eat. If it died in a day check your water and drip aclimate everything for at leat an hour. Something is not right.

[shaneh]

Also they need at least 50-75 lbs of rock to graze.

[tami1024]

I put him in my 29 and the reason that I bought him was bcz I have so much algea. I just tested my water yesterday and everything was within spec. I have nvr had any luck w/blennys. Although I do think that they are a cool loking creature.

[tami1024]

I did acclaimate him.

[Indy2008]

also if you don't have enough for them to graze on, supplement their diet, I use marine pellets and formula two frozen (has gel binder) mine is nice and fat

[tami1024]

By the way, I do have a Mandrine Goby that I have had for 6+ mo in the same tank. Could that have been the prob?

[Indy2008]

Madrine shouldn't have anything to do with it. here is a pic of minehttp://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv342/Dale1234/lawnmoverbleenie2.jpg

[ALLANSAM]

Blennies eats pods.If you don't have a good pod population they will starve.:cool:

[JonnyD91]

I got lucky mine eats mysis, film, just about anything

[Indy2008]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14603813#post14603813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ALLANSAM
Blennies eats pods.If you don't have a good pod population they will starve.:cool: You must be thinking of some other bleeny:
Eats algae with a vengeance, is especially fond of hair alge and diatom algae and will help keep your tank algae free
They are very disease resistant and also are good at avoiding common marine fish disease like ich because of their their scaleless bodies
They are fairly peaceful in attitude, they will possibly go after other bottom dwelling fish like gobies and other blennies so make sure they are the only fish of heir type in the tank.
They are very inexpensive compared to other saltwater fish and for the cash strapped hobbiest they are a great buy.
Most specimens readily eat prepared foods so having them starve out or be under nourished is not a major concern. Although about 20% of them may not eat prepared food and only eat algae growing in the tank.
Since they tend to hang out in and on live rock they add life and movement to an area of the tank that normally has little movement.
They do not need a huge tank to thrive and grow, in fact man of these fish are kept in tanks as small as 35 gallons with no problems.

The only real drawback to the lawnmower blenny is that they have been known to pick at and irritate live coral and clams in the reef aquarium. Other then that they are a great addition to any community saltwater aquarium.
Mine also eats bloodworms

[tami1024]

Nice looking blenny. I just got him yesterday. Could he have starved that soon?

[Indy2008]

Thank you...did you try and feed him? it would be hard to say, because you don't know when the last time he ate. Mine didn't eat for a couple days until he got used to his surroundings, now he wants to eat all the time, mine will grab a pellet throw it into the flow and he'll chase after it,

[tami1024]

He seemed very active at the LFS yesterday. He was panting and lying on his side when I came home today. I wish I had better luck w/them.

[Indy2008]

also Tami it may of been an accumlation issue, most LFS keep livestock on the lower end of salanity, I've learned the hard way, now I take my time when I accumlate, usually 3 hours per fish, I don't use a drip method, I use the tablespoon method.

[cardiffgiant]

Mine grazes all over 60+ lbs of rock, eats formula 2 pellets daily (2 times per day from the auto feeder), frozen formula 2 on occasion, and eats nori from the clip.

[Andy_Wolfe]

That's some bad luck.

Does your LFS give any kind of guarantee?

[tami1024]

I will find out Mon?

[Shekki]

I had mine for over two years. He ate everything. I switched tanks and he jumped a few days later. I was really bummed. Here's the last picture taken of "Iggy."

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p294/Monkeyrobb/Aquarium/lastpicofiggy.jpg