Strange behavior from a Lawnmower/Sailfin Blenny?   12/11/11
Hello Mr. Fenner and crew, Jeff from Terre Haute, IN here.
<Do say hi for me to Morgan Lidster there>
I have a fairly new saltwater setup, a 75 gallon with 150 pounds of live rock, a Reef Octopus NWB150 skimmer, media reactor (I use it for carbon), and other various goodies. When I purchased the tank it was in poor shape and the previous owner had never changed the water.
<Yuck!>
 Living inside was one turbo snail and a 5 inch or so Lawnmower Blenny, I assume this to be the adult size. These guys survived the hour long ride and now have a home in my setup.
<A tough species>
Now to the point... The Blenny has been acting strangely these past few days. He has been hiding a lot more and doesn't seem to be accepting food.
I feed New Life spectrum pellets and the blenny along with my yellow tang get garlic treated Nori sheets on a clip for grazing. The Blenny used to love the Nori and even eat it from my hand, but now he ignores it. A lot of times when I feed he will swim to a back corner so he won't be bothered.
Up until yesterday he would still swim to the front when I approached the tank and acted like he wanted to be fed, and would even take a pellet but he just spit it out. He seems to be breathing heavily, and his mouth is halfway open.
<Mmm, sounds/reads like physical damage here>
I also watched him kind of spasm the last time I fed when he touched the sand, and I also observed him taking nips at his own tail. He used to eat off the glass but hasn't moved much at all the past few days.
It's been going on for 5 days or so, and up until then this was the second most active fish in the tank after the tang. He would always nip at my hands when they were in the tank to move something, and would always swim around the front of the tank  when I was near.
I am very late for a water change (a couple months, I try to do a near-100% change monthly but have been sidetracked),
<Mmm... don't do such wholesale change-outs... Do read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/water.htm
and the linked files above>
but my parameters are still in check - Nitrates are surprisingly holding out at 5, nitrite and ammonia at 0, PH is at 8.0, salinity is at 1.024, temperature is 80 degrees. The water I use is RO from the LFS because I have pretty nasty well water in my house. I need to get the change in soon but I don't really see this as my issue as the blenny has shown itself to be very tolerant of way worse conditions, I would suspect another fish (or the crabs or shrimp) to show some sign of distress first. But I'm no expert! The first thing that came to mind was low oxygen with his heavy breathing, but there's very good water movement in the tank, around 3000gph between the two powerheads and sump return. For reference my fish are as follows: 2 blue green Chromis, one tiny ocellaris clownfish, one yellow tang, one pink spotted goby, the lawnmower blenny, a royal gramma and a tiger shrimp as well as some hermit crabs.
<Not low DO in such a size/shape volume... and the Yellow Tang would suffer as well>
Sorry for the long winded message, I wanted to be as detailed as possible as I'm very concerned.
<Me too... again, this is likely a trauma... the fish banged itself against something hard. Only time can/will tell if this fish will heal up... As stated, Salarias are tough. Just keep offering food, change the regimen of frequent partial water changes, gravel vacuuming>
Thanks
Jeff
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Lawnmower Blenny Color
Dear crew,
<Tom>
1. Great work, I love the site and I love the responses.
<Ah good>
2. I know you must get sick of questions that are obviously already posted on your website.
<Mmm, no; just my own responses over and over>
I wanted to share a tool with you I thought you might find useful in dealing with those questions: "Let Me Google that for You" or http://lmgtfy.com/ which, when used properly, produces a link that does something like the following http://tinyurl.com/llom4v (no viruses I promise). Hope it gives you a laugh.
<Neat!>
3. On to my question... please don't use 2. to answer this. I looked at the website to find out why my Lawnmower Blenny is changing color and I don't think the explanations fit my situation. (requisite tank info: 35 gallon tall, 50 lbs live rock, eheim canister for up to 60 gal tanks, 1.025 SG, 2 percula clowns, 1 blenny, 4 Cerith, 3 Nassarius, brine shrimp (?maybe from the frozen brine shrimp food?),
<Could be...>
some Zoanthids, some Aiptasia, some shelf fungus looking sponges (??),
<Likely so>
and a whole host of baby snails... I think the Cerith reproduced. Water chemistry is fine, P .05 ppm - .100 ppm, nitrate is below 1 ppm, and ammonia is nonexistent).
When the blenny was first introduced to the tank (3 months ago) he was very skittish and stayed in his little cave, now he comes out and checks out what people are doing and generally doesn't seem to mind being gawked at. The darnedest thing is that he seems to be able to rapidly change color based on the substrate he is against.
<Interesting... can change short term depending on mood/emotion, and longer term on the basis of nutrition, water quality, environment... Other fish groups, perhaps most celebratedly some Pleuronectiforms/Flatfishes, can/do rapidly match their substrates>
On the darker live rock he is darker gray to purplish. On the light sandy bottom he is very light gray to white. We have been arguing about this in the lab as to whether or not he is changing
color or it is a trick of the light. Your website indicates that he can change color but only in a night/fright/about to die sort of way. What we are observing is rapid (minutes even seconds) and frequent (hard to tell at least 5+ times a day) color change during the day in a healthy fish who isn't frightened (or if he is too curious to run away).
<In this small volume, not much opportunity for this>
It all seems to be linked to his substrate. I know your website says they aren't chameleons but most of those questions are three years old or so. Has there been any new development / research on this question in the last few years?
Thanks,
Thomas
<How might one test this speculation? Mmm, substrate color preferences... and responses... Bob Fenner>

Nesting Blenny? 9/26/08 Hi there, I have a Lawnmower Blenny in a 125 gal. tank. I recently did a water change, and stirred up the sand a little, and since then ( about a week ) it has been slowly creating a nest in the sand next to a small piece of rock. I have had this Blenny for at least 6 months and he has never acted this way before. The "nest" is front and center of the tank with no coverage at all! He eats and swims with the other fish the same as before, but now spends his perching time curled in his nest. Is he just a weirdo or what? Have you ever heard of this behavior? Just curious. Thanks Amanda <Have seen this behavior amongst Salarias, Atrosalarias blennies in the wild... do think this may be a bit of both reproductive and defensive drive at work. Bob Fenner>

Lawnmower Blenny... beh./hlth.  03/06/2008 Hello <<Hello, Andrew today>> I have a 55 gallon tank i thought i had enough algae in it so i got a lawnmower blenny, but now his mouth is open and he seems to be breathing fast i have heard it has something to do with him not getting enough to eat. <<Quite possible>> But i wasn't sure so i tried feeding him two different things out of my frozen multipack and putting some of the sheet algae but he isn't interested in it i was wondering if you had any suggestions? <<You could try feeding the blenny on other herbivore based feeds like Spirulina, had personal joy with marine algae pellets and wafers ( the sinking variety )>> <<Hope this helps. A Nixon>>

Silly Blenny, or Sick Fish? Hey crew, <Hey Scott F. here today!> I notice that my algae blenny every once in a while will rub up against the rocks.  He doesn't do it very often and has done it for quiet some time.  Is there a normal behavior of blennies doing this, or is it ich?? I searched the forums but didn't really find a definitive answer. Thank you, Todd <I've seen various blennies engage in this behavior periodically without them being ill. They are kinda goofy characters at times. My advice is to simply keep a good eye on the fish and be prepared to take action should symptoms manifest themselves. Good luck! Regards, Scott F>

The corals don't like the Blenny Hi, <Hi Lisa!> I got a rock with a few orange/purple Ricordea and another with green  star polyps about 1 1/2 weeks ago. They were doing great until I got a  Sailfin blenny. He climbs all over the rocks and occasionally the  corals. He knocked the Ricordea rock over 2 times! <Hee Hee!  Very normal Blenny behavior.  They don't seem to care much what they "climb" over or perch on, and in fact, mine will forcibly throw objects off of his favorite perch!> The first time he  just tapped it and they seemed fine, 2nd time it was flipped and  sitting on one of the shrooms. I finally got some glue but when I  picked up the rock I realized the Ric was only partially attached to  the rock. It also has a small chunk missing, the purple looks grayish and the mouth does too. <Gluing or otherwise attaching corals is a wise choice to prevent such falls.> Is it dead or injured? Anything I can do to  save it? <It sounds like it is a bit  bleached.  It should recover quickly and completely if you prevent further insults.> As if that's not enough trouble from the blenny, he's also upset the  GSP. They were 1/2 closed up after the first day w/the blenny, now  they've been closed solid for 2 days. Are they OK? Will they get used  to him? <It is normal for GSP's to periodically close for a while.  If you are sure it is the Blenny, they may adapt, but it is probably best to move the GSP's out of his territory. Thanks, Lisa Spencer <best regards!  Adam>

- The Amazing, Changing Lawnmower Blenny - I have a lawnmower blenny who is fat and happy. <Glad to hear it.> I have noticed since I got him that he appears to have the ability to change color depending on stress level and depending on what his environment is. I recently added a lot of new live rock and it is covered in coralline. Now the back half of my blennies has a slightly purple tinge. Wondering if this is a ability they have or if it is an illusion or if I am just plain crazy? <Neither one actually... all fish can alter their colors to some extent, although most aren't chameleons some, like a couple of the flat fish have an uncanny ability to match their surroundings. Most others instead have what's known as a night/fright pattern, typically something that offers an additional amount of protection in the dark - like extra eye spots, etc. On the flip side, and in captivity it is not uncommon for a fish to fade its colors, many times due to nutritional deficiencies. What could happen in this case is a combination of factors - perhaps a response to environment, perhaps also a response to being fat and happy.> I have been searching Q&A's and blennies info and have turned up nothing. Any insight? <I say no worries.> Its a mystery now and I would love a expert opinion. Thank you Susan
<Cheers, J -- >

Napping Salarias in a Softy 12/24/05 Happy Holidays WWM, <And to you> I few quick question for you,  tonight I decided to watch my reef tank after the lights went out, and to my surprise I seen my Lawnmower Blenny, S. fasciatus napped out in my Colt Coral, Alcyonium sp.  It looked as if he is trying to make it his host like a Clownfish.  Has this ever been seen before?  Is it a normal behavior for the blenny to sleep in corals?  I notice that all the polyps on the Colt had retracted while he was in it; could he eventually harm the coral?  If I can get a picture I'll send it to you.  Thanks again and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! <Nothing unusual, just finding a room for the night.  James (Salty Dog)> Bryan

Lawnmower Blenny Behaviour 4/6/2006 Hello! <<Hey Sonny!>> My lawnmower blenny moves up and down so fast at the corner of the tank, and stays at the top of the water right beside the filter. He looks like gasping air, and he does that mostly up side down. <<Wow, that doesn't sound good.  These fish tend to use their mouths some when breathing, but certainly not upside down often.>> It started about a week ago. All the test results are fine. <<Actual number readings are helpful here.>> It is a fish only tank.46 gallon with 4 clowns, a vermiculated angel, a hermit crab, and the lawnmower blenny in it. Do you have any idea what could be the problem? <<While I do not know what your water chemistry is like, nor do I know how long you have had this fish, my guess is that the problem is environmental.  A 46-gallon tank is simply too small for this fish, not due to its size, but due to nutritional requirements.  They need LOTS of filamentous green algae in their diet, and if your tank lacks this, it will starve.  Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/algblenfaqs.htm.>> Thank you in advance, Sonny. <<Glad to help.  Lisa>>

Disappearing Lawnmower Blenny   2/7/06 Hello All: I first want to say as most have done before me that your site has helped us in many ways. <Glad to hear that! Scott F. with you tonight> We have a 120 Gal saltwater tank that is about 7 weeks old, with about 13 pounds of live rock and a few pieces of medium to small coral, a few shells and a couple of handfuls of live plant, a Domino Damsel (despite what we've read is very friendly with it's tank mates) a Coral Banded Shrimp ( he can be nasty at times but stays with the live rock mostly) a Purple Dottyback, a Hermit Crab, 2 Emerald crabs, a Striped Goby and a Red Emperor, and my favorite of all, The Lawnmower Blenny. <One of my favorites, too!> We have had the Blenny for about 5 weeks. He used to be very active and skip about with a ton of personality. Last week he cleared away some of the crushed coral and sand and" moved into" one of the shells. He does not come out much any longer and if he does it is just for a very few seconds and then goes back into the shell and peeks out. I have the algae sheets in the tank for him to feed on and sometimes he will eat the flake or thawed shrimp.  Why would he all of a sudden  " hide out " ? He was/is so much fun to watch. Thank you in advance for any and all help.   Charlene & Todd <Well, it's hard to be 100% sure why a fish disappears. It is certainly a possibility that the fish is sick or injured, and simply needs to recover in peace. It may also be that the fish is otherwise stressed and is responding to some disturbance. In all likelihood, the fish is imply going through "a phase", and, if in otherwise good health- he'll head on back out to mingle with his tankmates once again. The fact that he is eating is a very good sign! I'll bet that he'll be out and about again in due time! Hang in there! Regards, Scott F.>

Atrosalarias fuscus Going Berserk 7/26/07 Crew, <Hello> I have a Brown Combtooth Blenny that is going gangsta on my fish. My display is 110 gallons, with 65lbs live rock. My fish stock is the offending bully, a Sailfin Tang, a gold stripe maroon, and a Royal Gramma. <All are known to be aggressive, particularly the Maroon clown.> Seems that my tank is plenty big for my stock. <Probably, but then we don't really get to decide this, its up to the individual fish to determine how big their territory needs to be.> The Atrosalarias seems especially eager to pick on the Gramma, but he's not above chasing the Sailfin Tang around. He's not even partial to one rock--he seems to follow the Gramma all then pounce like a fisher cat. Is this normal?? I thought these blennies were supposed to be fairly peaceful as long as they weren't mixed with similar blennies?? <I would guess that the Gramma's body type is close enough to the blenny's and triggering a aggressive response.> Andy
<Chris>