Killer Lawnmower Blenny!!!???

branemaniac · 12/13/2009, 06:04 PM

So I do not have good luck with keeping fish. I have many stories of fish that were supposed to be gentle and kind killing and eating other fish. I feel like a real life episode of southpark when Stan gets the Indian burial ground goldfish.

Among these stories, I have had a small 1" clownfish rip off the fins and otherwise disable a same sized blue chromis, which was then eaten by a 6" engineer goby. This same goby killed a 3 inch round fuzzy crab and buried him with live sand in order to hide the evidence. I have puffer fish, so I am slightly used to the game of "eat anything that moves", but I am starting up a peaceful tank and some more drama happened. I got rid of some bad seeds in that tank, leaving it with some small coral frags, one 4" lawnmower blenny, and for some color, I added a nice blue headed wrasse. The wrasse seemed skiddish and would be chased around a little bit by the lawnmower.

I came home today, to find that 5" wrasse, with what looks like a busted lip, some missing coloration and scales about the size of a quarter on his side, and large gash / chunk missing from his ventral side the size of a dime.

Has anyone else had a lawnmower blenny that has been able to bite (more of a munch) a chunk out of a fish?? I have a 20 gallon tank with some live sand and live rock. I dont think that I have any hitchhikers in my tank, other than some large anthropods. No evidence of bristleworms or mantis....

fstlane4me · 12/13/2009, 07:39 PM

I've never heard of lawnmower blennies attacking other fish.Have you ever watched your tank late at night after the lights are out?Use a flashlight with a red lens and see what you see.It sounds like a hitchhiker for sure.

Pimps · 12/13/2009, 07:41 PM

WOW

I agree with the above post. It sounds like you might have an unwelcome visitor staying in your tank!

branemaniac · 12/13/2009, 10:43 PM

Hmm...well if it is a hitchhiker in my tank that has been set up for about 6 months, what do you think it is? Some sort of mantis could rip a chunk out of a fish, but what other critters are small enough to hide under my limited live rock/sand with a big enough bite that could do this?

Thanks for the help thus far!

Sisterlimonpot · 12/13/2009, 10:58 PM

I got to say that I was laughing with the commentary of your first post.

It's hard to say what it is that is hurting your fish. I would sit in front of it tonight with a red light and see what might be lurking in the rocks.

Toddrtrex · 12/13/2009, 10:59 PM

About a month ago I added a multi-colored angel to my tank, my golden lawnmower blenny went after it for the first couple of days. I am not sure it was him (( or my pink skunk pair )) but, it had some torn fins, and pretty sure it was the blenny.

lalo809 · 12/14/2009, 12:03 AM

I bought a lawnmower a week ago and the only thing he eats is algae,before i bought the blenny i had a firefish that just went missing and before that one i had another firefish that went missing to so it might be a shrimp or something behind the rocks

branemaniac · 12/14/2009, 12:14 AM

Thanks for the insight. I will see what I can find once I turn out the lights.

As far as the laughing goes, I have to laugh at this stuff as well, or else it is just sad and depressing the amount of money I have sunk into this hobby to just get eaten.

Unfortunately, I have been having my doubts and crossroads for fishtank keeping, so this was really the straw that broke the camel's back. I think I am going to sell my tank and setup. I am pretty big into cars, and just bought a project car that I want to do an engine swap into, so this break from fish fundings will help me out in that respect. Thanks all for your help, it has been an entertaining time.

drewp808 · 12/14/2009, 01:08 AM

Dont do it

lordofthereef · 12/14/2009, 01:16 AM

Frankly, I am thinking some of your experiences may have been you interpreting a situation incorrectly. Plenty of creatures will "grab a bite to eat" when it is available, but not necessarily predate other animals to feed.

12/13/2009, 06:04 PM	#1
branemaniac Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7	Killer Lawnmower Blenny!!!??? So I do not have good luck with keeping fish. I have many stories of fish that were supposed to be gentle and kind killing and eating other fish. I feel like a real life episode of southpark when Stan gets the Indian burial ground goldfish. Among these stories, I have had a small 1" clownfish rip off the fins and otherwise disable a same sized blue chromis, which was then eaten by a 6" engineer goby. This same goby killed a 3 inch round fuzzy crab and buried him with live sand in order to hide the evidence. I have puffer fish, so I am slightly used to the game of "eat anything that moves", but I am starting up a peaceful tank and some more drama happened. I got rid of some bad seeds in that tank, leaving it with some small coral frags, one 4" lawnmower blenny, and for some color, I added a nice blue headed wrasse. The wrasse seemed skiddish and would be chased around a little bit by the lawnmower. I came home today, to find that 5" wrasse, with what looks like a busted lip, some missing coloration and scales about the size of a quarter on his side, and large gash / chunk missing from his ventral side the size of a dime. Has anyone else had a lawnmower blenny that has been able to bite (more of a munch) a chunk out of a fish?? I have a 20 gallon tank with some live sand and live rock. I dont think that I have any hitchhikers in my tank, other than some large anthropods. No evidence of bristleworms or mantis.... __________________ 1 Dog Faced Puffer / 2 Green Spotted Puffers / 1 "Freshwater" Snowflake Eel 1 Lawnmower Blenny / 1 Engineer Goby

12/13/2009, 07:41 PM	#3
Pimps Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 239	WOW I agree with the above post. It sounds like you might have an unwelcome visitor staying in your tank! __________________ Current Project: 35gallon tank, BakPak2, 2inch sand bed black Tahitian sand, 15lbs cured Fiji rock - Currently cycling Current Tank Info: 25g f/w, 35g s/w

12/13/2009, 10:43 PM	#4
branemaniac Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7	Hmm...well if it is a hitchhiker in my tank that has been set up for about 6 months, what do you think it is? Some sort of mantis could rip a chunk out of a fish, but what other critters are small enough to hide under my limited live rock/sand with a big enough bite that could do this? Thanks for the help thus far! __________________ 1 Dog Faced Puffer / 2 Green Spotted Puffers / 1 "Freshwater" Snowflake Eel 1 Lawnmower Blenny / 1 Engineer Goby

12/13/2009, 10:58 PM	#5
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	I got to say that I was laughing with the commentary of your first post. It's hard to say what it is that is hurting your fish. I would sit in front of it tonight with a red light and see what might be lurking in the rocks. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/13/2009, 10:59 PM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	About a month ago I added a multi-colored angel to my tank, my golden lawnmower blenny went after it for the first couple of days. I am not sure it was him (( or my pink skunk pair )) but, it had some torn fins, and pretty sure it was the blenny. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/13/2009, 07:39 PM	#2
fstlane4me Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: VC,Ks Posts: 61	I've never heard of lawnmower blennies attacking other fish.Have you ever watched your tank late at night after the lights are out?Use a flashlight with a red lens and see what you see.It sounds like a hitchhiker for sure.

12/14/2009, 12:03 AM	#7
lalo809 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: west,Indianapollis Posts: 346	I bought a lawnmower a week ago and the only thing he eats is algae,before i bought the blenny i had a firefish that just went missing and before that one i had another firefish that went missing to so it might be a shrimp or something behind the rocks

12/14/2009, 12:14 AM	#8
branemaniac Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7	Thanks for the insight. I will see what I can find once I turn out the lights. As far as the laughing goes, I have to laugh at this stuff as well, or else it is just sad and depressing the amount of money I have sunk into this hobby to just get eaten. Unfortunately, I have been having my doubts and crossroads for fishtank keeping, so this was really the straw that broke the camel's back. I think I am going to sell my tank and setup. I am pretty big into cars, and just bought a project car that I want to do an engine swap into, so this break from fish fundings will help me out in that respect. Thanks all for your help, it has been an entertaining time. __________________ 1 Dog Faced Puffer / 2 Green Spotted Puffers / 1 "Freshwater" Snowflake Eel 1 Lawnmower Blenny / 1 Engineer Goby

12/14/2009, 01:08 AM	#9
drewp808 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: HONOLULU Posts: 143	Dont do it

12/14/2009, 01:16 AM	#10
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Frankly, I am thinking some of your experiences may have been you interpreting a situation incorrectly. Plenty of creatures will "grab a bite to eat" when it is available, but not necessarily predate other animals to feed. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!