I know blennies are quirky, but...

novadan67 · 06/05/2014, 09:57 AM

I've had a tailspot blenny in quarantine for almost 2 weeks. He/she seems to be doing very good, eating a lot and not seeming too stressed. This morning when I fed it, I saw something that scared me. The fish was swimming very strange. It would take a bite to eat and then roll over, like a dog! It did this 2 or 3 times and then seemed to go back to it's usual swimming motion. To me, if I EVER see a fish upside down, it just looks bad. Is this something to be concerned about? Do blennies occasionally "roll over"? This is my first time keeping a blenny, I've searched and searched and cannot find anything about this behavior.

Xavibear · 06/05/2014, 10:00 AM

There is a reason that escenius blennies are also called comical blennies.

Scott07 · 06/05/2014, 12:18 PM

oddly, I also have a tailspot blenny in QT at the moment. While I've never seen him "roll over"... I have seen him engage in some very comical behavior. I've witnessed him almost bend himself in half, touch his tail w/ his face real quick... and then go back about with his business as though nothing happened lol. Never had a fish do that before haha.

Sk8r · 06/05/2014, 12:19 PM

Marine fish swim at all sorts of funny angles.

novadan67 · 06/05/2014, 12:24 PM

Thanks, so you guys are saying nothing to worry about? Just seeing a fish belly up (if even for an instant) kicks in my "that's not right" instincts. I'll just keep observing the little guy.

My daughter says the blenny reminds her of a dog because of the way it curls up and sleeps and interacts with us when we feed it. This rolling over trick takes it to another level!

Fish Biscuit · 06/05/2014, 03:41 PM

Keep an eye on him, just sounds like the usual silly blenny behavior but I've never seen one roll over lol. They are very dog like in their behavior. I used to have a tailspot that would sit on the mag float & watch me work along with kissing the glass right at me on occasion.

novadan67 · 06/06/2014, 08:35 AM

I watched him a little more last night. The fish seems totally fine, it eats and swims normally except when doing this "roll over" trick. It almost seems like some kind of territorial (or mating) behavior as it only does this when it's really close to my Yasha goby. They've been in the QT for about 2 weeks and I've never seen any aggression, but the blenny often swims right next to the goby and now it's doing this strange tip on it's side and roll over motion.

06/05/2014, 09:57 AM	#1
novadan67 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 94	I know blennies are quirky, but... I've had a tailspot blenny in quarantine for almost 2 weeks. He/she seems to be doing very good, eating a lot and not seeming too stressed. This morning when I fed it, I saw something that scared me. The fish was swimming very strange. It would take a bite to eat and then roll over, like a dog! It did this 2 or 3 times and then seemed to go back to it's usual swimming motion. To me, if I EVER see a fish upside down, it just looks bad. Is this something to be concerned about? Do blennies occasionally "roll over"? This is my first time keeping a blenny, I've searched and searched and cannot find anything about this behavior.

06/05/2014, 10:00 AM	#2
Xavibear Crazy Prophet Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 1,008	There is a reason that escenius blennies are also called comical blennies. __________________ 36g bowfront Current Tank Info: Pair of Occellaris clowns, Royal gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Blue tuxedo urchin, Fire shrimp, Trochus snails, Cerith snails, Nassarius snails, Ricordea mushroom, Kenya tree, Acan brain & Frogspawn

06/05/2014, 12:19 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Marine fish swim at all sorts of funny angles. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/05/2014, 03:41 PM	#6
Fish Biscuit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,164	Keep an eye on him, just sounds like the usual silly blenny behavior but I've never seen one roll over lol. They are very dog like in their behavior. I used to have a tailspot that would sit on the mag float & watch me work along with kissing the glass right at me on occasion. __________________ Michele I enjoy vodka entirely too much to share with the fish. Current Tank Info: 65 rimless with Eshopps R200 sump, current inhabitants randall goby, helfrichi, possum wrasse, barnacle blenny, mandarin, pistol, peppermint, & fire shrimp, snails, hermits, & LPS

06/05/2014, 12:18 PM	#3
Scott07 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 384	oddly, I also have a tailspot blenny in QT at the moment. While I've never seen him "roll over"... I have seen him engage in some very comical behavior. I've witnessed him almost bend himself in half, touch his tail w/ his face real quick... and then go back about with his business as though nothing happened lol. Never had a fish do that before haha.

06/05/2014, 12:24 PM	#5
novadan67 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 94	Thanks, so you guys are saying nothing to worry about? Just seeing a fish belly up (if even for an instant) kicks in my "that's not right" instincts. I'll just keep observing the little guy. My daughter says the blenny reminds her of a dog because of the way it curls up and sleeps and interacts with us when we feed it. This rolling over trick takes it to another level!

06/06/2014, 08:35 AM	#7
novadan67 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 94	I watched him a little more last night. The fish seems totally fine, it eats and swims normally except when doing this "roll over" trick. It almost seems like some kind of territorial (or mating) behavior as it only does this when it's really close to my Yasha goby. They've been in the QT for about 2 weeks and I've never seen any aggression, but the blenny often swims right next to the goby and now it's doing this strange tip on it's side and roll over motion.