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FAQs on the Algae Eating Blennies Behavior
Related Articles: Algae Eating Blennies,
True or Combtooth Blennies,
Ecsenius Blennies, Tube/Pike/Flag
Blennies/Chaenopsidae, Related
FAQs: Algae-eating
Blennies, FAQs 2, &
Algae Eating Blenny (AEB) Identification,
AEB Compatibility, AEB Selection,
AEB Systems, AEB Feeding,
AEB Disease, AEB Reproduction, &
Combtooth Blennies 1,
Blenny Identification, Blenny Behavior,
Blenny Compatibility, Blenny Selection,
Blenny Systems, Blenny Feeding,
Blenny Disease, Blenny Reproduction,
Ecsenius Blennies, Saber-Tooth
Blennies, Blennioids & their Relatives,
Tube/Pike/Flag Blennies/Chaenopsidae, | 
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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 -- >
Re: Neat Blenny
Bob:
Here is a picture that you may
enjoy. it sure to inspire those who are struggling with this
addiction we call a hobby. This little blenny has tons of
personality. Sometimes we are so busy working on our tanks that we
don’t take a few minutes to enjoy the habitat that we have created.
<Indeed. Thank you. Bob Fenner>
Enjoy: Dan Sovetsky |
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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>
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