Starving Lawnmower Blenny

serpentman · 07/26/2008, 03:59 PM

I have a lawnmower blenny that is looking mighty thin. Not sure what should do about it. There obviously isn't enough nuisance algae to keep him busy. I am feeding a homemade mix (similar to rods reef) and offer nori everyday. However, the tangs make quick work of it.

Ideally I would catch him and give him some time in my fuge, however, its doubtful I would be successful in nabbing him. Any ideas?

Peter Eichler · 07/26/2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by serpentman
I have a lawnmower blenny that is looking mighty thin. Not sure what should do about it. There obviously isn't enough nuisance algae to keep him busy. I am feeding a homemade mix (similar to rods reef) and offer nori everyday. However, the tangs make quick work of it.

Ideally I would catch him and give him some time in my fuge, however, its doubtful I would be successful in nabbing him. Any ideas?

This is pretty common and unless you can find a way to get him eating prepared foods (can be quite difficult) he will die. If you want to give it a fighting chance you need to catch him and give him to someone with a large tank that has a decent amount of microalgae. The fuge might work for a short time, but in the long run you'll have the same problem.

I really wish people would stop suggesting Lawnmower Blennies as a good beginner fish or algae eater for smaller tanks. That doesn't relate to you in any way, you just don't even enough microalgae.

Kannin · 07/26/2008, 04:24 PM

Mine eats everything but, I think the first thing he ate was little pieces of Formula II soaked in Garlic Extreme.

mhummel · 07/26/2008, 04:40 PM

I had one in a 60 cube when first setup. It would eat formula one and did a good job of keeping the algea under control in the tank. I've had him for about a year and he started to be a picky eater and became very thin. I could not find anyone to take him with an algea problem. Not long after he went missing one morning, I assumed the cleanup crew made quick work of him. I will not recommend them to anyone. Hopefully you can find someone with an algea problem before he dies. Hope you have better luck than I did.
Mark

BuddhaKiss · 07/26/2008, 04:44 PM

I picked one up a while back to help with my algae problem. When my algae went away I didn't really think much of it b/c it was also eating mysis, formula one and two. If began to get skinny and I started offering nori which he didn't touch. One morning I found my brittle star feasting on its dead body. Great fish, but I wouldn't get one again.

serpentman · 07/26/2008, 06:15 PM

In hindsite it was a bad move as I purchased him with the intent to deal with some patches of nuisance hair algae that I couldn't get to retreat. Unfortunately, he did a great job on it but soon ate himself out of a job as the tang and rabbitfish are much more aggressive.

Figure I will try and trap him b4 its too late.

OliverM3 · 07/26/2008, 06:51 PM

Easy solution just stop doing water changes and over feed the tank

You'll have food for the blenny in no time.

Agu · 07/26/2008, 07:06 PM

Try feeding some spirulina discs ......

OliverM3 · 07/26/2008, 07:59 PM

On a more serious note the nori can be rubber banded to a rock and placed with the nori facing the inside of your rockwork if possible.
My lawnmower will feed in the back dark area of my tank. where my tangs like to feed from the chip clip and don't seem to mess with nori behind my rock work.
I have a lawnmower and a black widow blenny and so far that's been working to keep them fat now that my algae problem is finally under control.

msobon · 07/27/2008, 03:59 AM

Try Algea sheets, on a clip, let the tangs pig out first, eventually they get so full they wont eat anymore. I buy a bunch from chinese stores(they use them for sushi). My blenny is fat, he's got a gut.

kingsland · 07/27/2008, 08:30 AM

Try feeding bloodworms. My lawnmower blenny loves them.

alf1096 · 07/27/2008, 08:38 AM

Mine will eat flake. I have had several lmb and have never had a problem with them not eating flake.

nate1414 · 07/27/2008, 09:19 AM

My blenny will eat everything from brine to formula 2 pellets. He seemed to like the brine 1st I think. I would try the nori/algea idea in the back of the tank or where ever he is during feeding time for the tank.

GSMguy · 07/27/2008, 10:45 AM

Jeff i will take him if you like, mine jumped and i miss him.

otherwise i would say use a rubberband to attach algae to a rock.

also id like to give you a chunk of rods food herbivore blend sometime to test out against the clubs DIY blend.

07/26/2008, 03:59 PM	#1
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	Starving Lawnmower Blenny I have a lawnmower blenny that is looking mighty thin. Not sure what should do about it. There obviously isn't enough nuisance algae to keep him busy. I am feeding a homemade mix (similar to rods reef) and offer nori everyday. However, the tangs make quick work of it. Ideally I would catch him and give him some time in my fuge, however, its doubtful I would be successful in nabbing him. Any ideas? __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

07/26/2008, 04:24 PM	#3
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	Mine eats everything but, I think the first thing he ate was little pieces of Formula II soaked in Garlic Extreme. __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

07/26/2008, 06:15 PM	#6
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	In hindsite it was a bad move as I purchased him with the intent to deal with some patches of nuisance hair algae that I couldn't get to retreat. Unfortunately, he did a great job on it but soon ate himself out of a job as the tang and rabbitfish are much more aggressive. Figure I will try and trap him b4 its too late. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

07/26/2008, 07:06 PM	#8
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Try feeding some spirulina discs ...... __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

07/27/2008, 03:59 AM	#10
msobon Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 80	Try Algea sheets, on a clip, let the tangs pig out first, eventually they get so full they wont eat anymore. I buy a bunch from chinese stores(they use them for sushi). My blenny is fat, he's got a gut. __________________ 75G Starphire 24X30x24 Coast to Coast Overflow Current Tank Info: 75G Starphire 24X30x24 Coast to Coast Overflow

07/26/2008, 04:40 PM	#4
mhummel Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Stevens, Pa Posts: 134	I had one in a 60 cube when first setup. It would eat formula one and did a good job of keeping the algea under control in the tank. I've had him for about a year and he started to be a picky eater and became very thin. I could not find anyone to take him with an algea problem. Not long after he went missing one morning, I assumed the cleanup crew made quick work of him. I will not recommend them to anyone. Hopefully you can find someone with an algea problem before he dies. Hope you have better luck than I did. Mark

07/26/2008, 04:44 PM	#5
BuddhaKiss Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 1,068	I picked one up a while back to help with my algae problem. When my algae went away I didn't really think much of it b/c it was also eating mysis, formula one and two. If began to get skinny and I started offering nori which he didn't touch. One morning I found my brittle star feasting on its dead body. Great fish, but I wouldn't get one again.

07/26/2008, 06:51 PM	#7
OliverM3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: PA Posts: 616	Easy solution just stop doing water changes and over feed the tank You'll have food for the blenny in no time.

07/26/2008, 07:59 PM	#9
OliverM3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: PA Posts: 616	On a more serious note the nori can be rubber banded to a rock and placed with the nori facing the inside of your rockwork if possible. My lawnmower will feed in the back dark area of my tank. where my tangs like to feed from the chip clip and don't seem to mess with nori behind my rock work. I have a lawnmower and a black widow blenny and so far that's been working to keep them fat now that my algae problem is finally under control.

07/27/2008, 08:30 AM	#11
kingsland Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 511	Try feeding bloodworms. My lawnmower blenny loves them. __________________ bogey Current Tank Info: 220 in wall, 60 frag and 75, Reeflo 250, Vortech 4x, 100 gal sump, MRC CR2

07/27/2008, 08:38 AM	#12
alf1096 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 399	Mine will eat flake. I have had several lmb and have never had a problem with them not eating flake.

07/27/2008, 09:19 AM	#13
nate1414 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 65	My blenny will eat everything from brine to formula 2 pellets. He seemed to like the brine 1st I think. I would try the nori/algea idea in the back of the tank or where ever he is during feeding time for the tank. __________________ Nathan Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 30 gallon sump with refugium. 2 150 watt MH and 2 48' actinic bulbs with 4 moon lights.

07/27/2008, 10:45 AM	#14
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	Jeff i will take him if you like, mine jumped and i miss him. otherwise i would say use a rubberband to attach algae to a rock. also id like to give you a chunk of rods food herbivore blend sometime to test out against the clubs DIY blend. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.