Tailspot Blenny with Starry Blenny?

SoloChromis · 10/28/2013, 02:51 PM

I plan on adding a starry blenny to my 120 and was wondering if a tailspot could be added without issue. I will also be adding a midas, but I doubt he will bother either of them, as he would be more of a planktonic feeder, and wouldn't see the bottom dwelling, algae eating blennies as a threat. So whats everyones opinions on mixing blennies?

Reef Frog · 10/28/2013, 08:47 PM

I think that combination would be fine. My Tailspot has never shown aggression to anything, even when feeding alongside fish with the same elongated body type. It's a great fun to watch fish with a neat personality. It is a "perch on rock & observe" fish but is in the water column quite a bit, always looking for food to float by.

I don't own a Starry Blenny but have observed them quite a bit. It will mostly be more substrate oriented, while the Tailspot tends to swim & feed in the middle. However the Tailspot may choose a hiding hole near the bottom. They will both seek out hiding holes in the LR so brief darting at each other is possible I suppose until they establish their territories.

Since you have a large tank, they would have plenty of space. This, plus their different color patterns, body types, feeding behaviors and niches they occupy would make them a very safe bet IMO. I might add a Starry myself. GL.

zombot · 10/29/2013, 02:51 AM

You'd be surprised. Star blenny aggression with others isnt uncommon. I dont think there's a huge risk but be prepared to possibly have to re arrange the scape in case

starkii · 10/29/2013, 03:57 AM

My friend keeps a starry and tailspot in his tank with a midas. The Starry was there first and then came the midas. No aggression was seen at all. He then had a pair (or what he thought was a pair of tailspots in a breeding system) and one tried to kill the other and was floated in the main system whilst another tank was setup. It escaped and is happy with the other two blennies. They do each have their own spots and the tailspot lives in a barnacle cluster too small for the others to fit in.
Saying that i do know somebody else who had a resident tailspot and added a smaller algae blenny. These were fine with the odd chase here and there but as the algae blenny has grown the aggression has increased so it is down to luck. They still tolerate each other but due to the potential difference in size i think the tailspot will eventually lose out if it continues. For that reason adding the tailspot first or both at the same time would be the better option.

10/28/2013, 02:51 PM	#1
SoloChromis Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 787	Tailspot Blenny with Starry Blenny? I plan on adding a starry blenny to my 120 and was wondering if a tailspot could be added without issue. I will also be adding a midas, but I doubt he will bother either of them, as he would be more of a planktonic feeder, and wouldn't see the bottom dwelling, algae eating blennies as a threat. So whats everyones opinions on mixing blennies? __________________ 60g Macro Algae & Gorgonian Dominated Reef Cube & 20g (Peacock) Mantis Tank Current Tank Info: 60g Caribbean-esque Reef (2'x2'x2'), 10g Quarantine

10/28/2013, 08:47 PM	#2
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	I think that combination would be fine. My Tailspot has never shown aggression to anything, even when feeding alongside fish with the same elongated body type. It's a great fun to watch fish with a neat personality. It is a "perch on rock & observe" fish but is in the water column quite a bit, always looking for food to float by. I don't own a Starry Blenny but have observed them quite a bit. It will mostly be more substrate oriented, while the Tailspot tends to swim & feed in the middle. However the Tailspot may choose a hiding hole near the bottom. They will both seek out hiding holes in the LR so brief darting at each other is possible I suppose until they establish their territories. Since you have a large tank, they would have plenty of space. This, plus their different color patterns, body types, feeding behaviors and niches they occupy would make them a very safe bet IMO. I might add a Starry myself. GL.

10/29/2013, 02:51 AM	#3
zombot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 72	You'd be surprised. Star blenny aggression with others isnt uncommon. I dont think there's a huge risk but be prepared to possibly have to re arrange the scape in case

10/29/2013, 03:57 AM	#4
starkii Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 137	My friend keeps a starry and tailspot in his tank with a midas. The Starry was there first and then came the midas. No aggression was seen at all. He then had a pair (or what he thought was a pair of tailspots in a breeding system) and one tried to kill the other and was floated in the main system whilst another tank was setup. It escaped and is happy with the other two blennies. They do each have their own spots and the tailspot lives in a barnacle cluster too small for the others to fit in. Saying that i do know somebody else who had a resident tailspot and added a smaller algae blenny. These were fine with the odd chase here and there but as the algae blenny has grown the aggression has increased so it is down to luck. They still tolerate each other but due to the potential difference in size i think the tailspot will eventually lose out if it continues. For that reason adding the tailspot first or both at the same time would be the better option.